A device for fixing an ocean current meter for measuring intertidal zone ocean currents

Abstract

The application provides a device for fixing a current meter to measure intertidal zone current, which comprises a support frame, a T-shaped transverse rod, a connecting cylinder, a current meter, a T-shaped longitudinal rod, a foam float ball, a weight and a connecting rope, both ends of the T-shaped transverse rod are connected with the support frame, the connecting cylinder is installed on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse rod, the T-shaped longitudinal rod is installed on the circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder, the design solves the problems of high operation risk and hidden danger in extreme weather, the upper portion of the current meter is provided with the foam float ball, the lower portion of the current meter is provided with the weight, the foam float ball, the T-shaped longitudinal rod and the upper end of the current meter are connected through the connecting rope, the design provides sufficient buoyancy, so that the current meter automatically floats up when the water level rises and automatically falls back when the water level falls, the problems of adjustment dependence on motor driving, complex structure and high power consumption of the original observation device are solved, and compared with the prior art, the application has the advantages of reasonable structure, wide application range and high reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention is a device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter, belonging to the field of marine hydrological observation technology. Background Technology

[0002] Intertidal flats (tidal zone) refer to the sedimentary zones of mud, sand, and rock between the mean high tide line and the mean low tide line. This area is greatly affected by the ebb and flow of tides, and the surface is periodically submerged or exposed by seawater. Observing the hydrodynamic elements of the intertidal zone has always been a challenge in marine observation. Although it belongs to boundary layer environment observation along with deep-sea bottom hydrodynamic observation, the intertidal hydrodynamic environment is complex, especially in sea areas with large tidal ranges, where the ebb and flow of tides lead to highly variable boundary layer hydrodynamic environments.

[0003] Conventional current observation in tidal flat areas often employs a manned vessel observation method during high tide—observing at high tide, retreating to deeper waters during low tide, and returning to the observation area during high tide, repeating this process until the observation is completed (generally, continuous observation for 26 hours requires two round trips). This measurement method has the following drawbacks: (1) High operational risk, requiring personnel to wade through water or travel by boat during high tide, posing safety hazards in extreme weather conditions; (2) Discontinuous observation data, with data gaps during the round trip; (3) Observation data is limited by the vessel's draft, making it difficult to accurately measure surface currents (approximately 0.5 m below the water surface); (4) Some intertidal areas, such as mangrove tidal channels, have winding and narrow routes, making them difficult for vessels to reach, affecting the comprehensiveness of the data.

[0004] In the existing technology, the existing intertidal topographic observation device with automatic adjustable measurement position has a movable observation frame that is hinged to the frame and driven by a stepper motor to change the unfolding angle. Its adjustment depends on the motor drive, which is complex and has high power consumption. The existing intertidal monitoring system based on the pole platform includes a bottom pile and a support, but the sensor is fixedly installed on the support and does not have an adaptive lifting function. There is an urgent need for a device for fixing the current meter to measure the intertidal current to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a device for measuring intertidal currents with a fixed current meter, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a device for fixing a current meter to measure intertidal currents, comprising a support frame, a T-shaped transverse rod, a connecting cylinder, a current meter, a T-shaped longitudinal rod, a foam float, a weight, a connecting rope, and a portable fixing mechanism. The two ends of the T-shaped transverse rod are connected to the support frame. A connecting cylinder is mounted on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse rod. A T-shaped longitudinal rod is mounted on the circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder. A current meter is positioned below the T-shaped longitudinal rod. A foam float is positioned above the current meter. A weight is positioned below the current meter. The foam float is connected to the T-shaped longitudinal rod and the upper end of the current meter via a connecting rope. The lower end of the current meter is connected to the weight via a connecting rope. A portable fixing mechanism is mounted on the circumferential surface of each support frame. The portable fixing mechanism includes a portable fixing shell, a drive motor, a support frame limiting rod, a drive gear, a driven gear, an external wrapping tube, a height limiting ring, and a spiral blade.

[0007] Furthermore, support connecting blocks are respectively installed at both ends of the T-shaped transverse bar, the support connecting blocks penetrate the circumferential surface of the support frame, and two sets of limiting rods are installed on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse bar, each set of the limiting rods consists of two rods, and the two limiting rods in each set are 180° apart with respect to the T-shaped transverse bar as the axis.

[0008] Furthermore, the diameter of the T-shaped transverse rod is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting cylinder, and the connection between the two is a movable sleeve structure, allowing the T-shaped longitudinal rod to rotate around the T-shaped transverse rod. The T-shaped transverse rod is located between two sets of limiting rods, and the distance between the two sets of limiting rods is slightly greater than the length of the T-shaped transverse rod.

[0009] Furthermore, the support frame is made of wood and is used to fix it to the intertidal mudflats by manual piling during low tide. Both the T-shaped horizontal bar and the T-shaped longitudinal bar are made of stainless steel.

[0010] Furthermore, the weight is used to maintain the stability of the current meter in the vertical direction, and the weight of the weight is greater than 5 kg, and the connecting rope is made of polyethylene rope.

[0011] Furthermore, a limiting seat is installed on the upper surface of the portable fixed shell, the limiting rod of the support frame passes through the limiting seat and the support frame, a portable handle is installed on the side surface of the limiting seat, a height limiting ring is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer wrapping tube, and the height limiting ring is connected to the portable fixed shell through a limiting track.

[0012] Furthermore, a drive motor is installed inside the portable fixed shell, a drive gear is installed on the upper surface of the drive motor, a driven gear is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer wrapping tube, the drive gear and the driven gear mesh with each other, and a helical blade is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer wrapping tube.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The device for fixing a current meter to measure intertidal currents according to this invention improves deployment safety by adding a support frame and a T-shaped transverse bar. The support frame is made of wood, and the mudflats are exposed at low tide. Operators can fix the support frame in the mudflats by manually driving piles, without having to travel by boat or wade through water. This avoids the safety risks of traditional tide observation and solves the problems of high operational risks and safety hazards in extreme weather conditions of the original device for fixing a current meter to measure intertidal currents, thus improving the safety of this invention.

[0014] Because this invention incorporates foam buoys, the design provides sufficient buoyancy, allowing the self-contained current meter to automatically rise with the water level during high tide and automatically sink back down with the water level during low tide. The longitudinal portion of the T-shaped rod can rotate around the transverse portion, ensuring that the current meter remains near a preset underwater depth (e.g., 0.5m). This ensures continuous acquisition of surface current data during the submersion period, solving the problem of discontinuous data observation and data gaps during round trips in existing devices used for measuring intertidal currents with fixed current meters, thus improving the functionality of this invention.

[0015] Because this invention adds a connecting rope, the design allows for adjusting the length of the connecting rope between the current meter and the end of the T-shaped rod, enabling the current meter probe to be positioned at the desired depth above the water surface. This satisfies the need for accurate measurement of surface currents (typically 0.5 m below the water surface), solving the problem that existing devices used for fixing current meters to measure intertidal currents are limited by the ship's draft, making it difficult to accurately measure surface currents (approximately 0.5 m below the water surface). This improves the accuracy of this invention.

[0016] Because this invention incorporates a counterweight, the design suspends the current meter at the lower end using a counterweight (>5kg), maintaining the current meter in a vertical position in the water and preventing tilting from affecting measurement accuracy. The upper and lower clamping structure between the foam float and the counterweight ensures that the current meter remains stable under wave impact, thus improving the stability of this invention.

[0017] Because this invention incorporates a current meter, the design continuously collects data after deployment, unaffected by water level fluctuations, allowing operators to leave immediately after deployment. In the post-processing stage, invalid data from periods above the water surface are removed based on auxiliary water depth criteria, retaining only valid data from the submerged period for current analysis. This significantly simplifies the on-site operation process and enhances the convenience of the invention.

[0018] Because this invention incorporates a portable fixing mechanism, the design, by driving the spiral blades to rotate and assisting the support frame in fixing itself in the sand, can reduce the workload of workers, improve the installation efficiency of the device, and enhance the efficiency of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter, according to another perspective of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a portable fixing mechanism installed in a device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to the present invention. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the connecting cylinder in a device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to the present invention. Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the support frame in a device for fixing a current meter to measure intertidal currents according to the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the support frame limiting rod in a device for fixing a current meter to measure intertidal currents according to the present invention. Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the portable fixing shell in the device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to the present invention. Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the external wrapping tube in a device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to the present invention. In the diagram: 1-Support frame, 2-T-shaped horizontal bar, 21-Support connecting block, 22-Limiting bar, 3-Connecting cylinder, 4-Current meter, 5-T-shaped longitudinal bar, 6-Foam float, 7-Weighted weight, 8-Connecting rope, 9-Portable fixing mechanism, 91-Portable fixing shell, 911-Limiting seat, 912-Portable handle, 92-Drive motor, 93-Support frame limiting bar, 94-Drive gear, 95-Driven gear, 96-External wrapping tube, 961-Height limiting ring, 97-Helical blade. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0021] Please see Figures 1-8This invention provides a technical solution: a device for fixing a current meter 4 to measure intertidal currents, comprising a support frame 1, a T-shaped transverse rod 2, a connecting cylinder 3, a current meter 4, a T-shaped longitudinal rod 5, a foam float 6, a weight 7, and a connecting rope 8. The two ends of the T-shaped transverse rod 2 are connected to the support frame 1. The connecting cylinder 3 is installed on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse rod 2, and the T-shaped longitudinal rod 5 is installed on the circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder 3. The current meter 4 is positioned below the T-shaped longitudinal rod 5, and a foam float 6 is positioned above the current meter 4. A float 6 and a counterweight 7 are installed below the current meter 4. The foam float 6 is connected to the T-shaped longitudinal rod 5 and the upper end of the current meter 4 by a connecting rope 8. The lower end of the current meter 4 is connected to the counterweight 7 by a connecting rope 8. A portable fixing mechanism 9 is installed on the circumferential surface of each of the support frames 1. The portable fixing mechanism 9 includes a portable fixing shell 91, a drive motor 92, a support frame limiting rod 93, a drive gear 94, a driven gear 95, an external wrapping tube 96, a height limiting ring 961, and a spiral blade 97.

[0022] Support connecting blocks 21 are installed at both ends of the T-shaped transverse bar 2. The support connecting blocks 21 penetrate the circumferential surface of the support frame 1. Two sets of limiting rods 22 are installed on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse bar 2. Each set of limiting rods 22 consists of two rods, and the two limiting rods 22 in each set are 180° apart with the T-shaped transverse bar 2 as the axis.

[0023] The diameter of the T-shaped transverse rod 2 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting cylinder 3, and the connection between the two is a movable sleeve structure, so that the T-shaped longitudinal rod 5 can rotate around the T-shaped transverse rod 2. The T-shaped transverse rod 2 is located between two sets of limiting rods 22, and the distance between the two sets of limiting rods 22 is slightly greater than the length of the T-shaped transverse rod 2.

[0024] The support frame 1 is made of wood and is used to fix it to the intertidal mudflats by manual piling during low tide. The T-shaped horizontal bar 2 and the T-shaped longitudinal bar 5 are both made of stainless steel.

[0025] The counterweight 7 is used to keep the current meter 4 stable in the vertical direction, and the weight of the counterweight 7 is greater than 5 kg. The connecting rope 8 is made of the same material.

[0026] A limiting seat 911 is installed on the upper surface of the portable fixed shell 91. A support frame limiting rod 93 passes through the limiting seat 911 and the support frame. A portable handle 912 is installed on the side surface of the limiting seat 911. A height limiting ring 961 is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer wrapping tube 96. The height limiting ring 961 is connected to the portable fixed shell 91 through a limiting track.

[0027] The portable fixed housing 91 has a drive motor 92 installed inside. A drive gear 94 is installed on the upper surface of the drive motor 92. A driven gear 95 is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer casing 96. The drive gear 94 and the driven gear 95 mesh with each other. A spiral blade 97 is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer casing 96. The drive motor 92 is electrically connected to an external generator.

[0028] As an embodiment of the present invention: When installing this device, first position and orientation of the support frame 1 are determined, and then drive motor 92 is turned on. Drive motor 92 will drive drive gear 94 to rotate. Since drive gear 94 and driven gear 95 mesh with each other, drive gear 94 will drive driven gear 95 to rotate. Driven gear 95 will drive outer wrapping tube 96 to rotate outside the support frame. When outer wrapping tube 96 rotates, support frame limiting rod 93 will restrict support frame 1 and outer wrapping tube 96 from rotating together. The height of outer wrapping tube 96 will be limited by height limiting ring 961, and it can only rotate inside portable fixing shell 91. When outer wrapping tube 96 rotates, it will drive spiral blade 97 to rotate. Spiral blade 97 will pick up sand near support frame 1, making support frame 1 easier to insert into sand, thereby improving the installation efficiency of workers. After the installation of support frame 1 is completed, only support frame limiting rod 93 needs to be pulled out to remove the entire portable fixing mechanism 9 from the surface of support frame 1, and then the T-shaped horizontal bar 2 can be installed.

[0029] As one embodiment of the invention: During low tide, the mudflats are exposed. Operators manually drive a wooden support frame 1 into the intertidal mudflats, ensuring it is driven deep enough to prevent loosening due to buoyancy or wave impact during high tide. Then, a portion of a stainless steel T-shaped horizontal bar 2 is fixed to the upper part of the support frame 1, and the longitudinal portion is installed in the middle of the horizontal portion using a movable sleeve. A current meter 4 is suspended from the end of the T-shaped longitudinal bar 5 using a connecting rope 8. A foam float 6 is connected to the upper end of the current meter 4 via the connecting rope 8, the rope length being preset according to the expected water depth (e.g., 0.5 m), and a weight 7 is connected to the lower end via the connecting rope 8. After completion, personnel evacuate the site; the entire process requires no wading.

[0030] As one embodiment of the present invention: the buoyancy of the foam float 6 is selected according to the total weight of the current meter 4 and the weight 7 to ensure sufficient upward buoyancy during high tide, allowing the current meter 4 to automatically rise with the water level. The weight 7 weighs more than 5 kg and is suspended from the lower end of the current meter 4, keeping the entire current meter 4 in a vertical position under the clamping of the float and the weight 7, preventing tilting from affecting measurement accuracy.

[0031] As one embodiment of the present invention: the connection between the T-shaped longitudinal rod 5 and the T-shaped transverse rod 2 is a movable sleeve structure. This sleeve is fixedly connected to the longitudinal part and can rotate around the transverse part. This sleeve structure can be a ball bearing sleeve or a sliding bearing sleeve, made of stainless steel, and features corrosion resistance and low frictional resistance.

[0032] As one embodiment of the present invention: after high tide, the seawater gradually submerges the device. The foam buoy 6, under buoyancy, causes the current meter 4 and the counterweight 7 to float upwards. The T-shaped longitudinal rod 5 rotates upwards around the sleeve connection of the T-shaped transverse rod 2, ensuring that the current meter 4 remains at a preset depth above the water surface (in this embodiment, the preset depth is 0.5 meters). The counterweight 7 ensures that the current meter 4 maintains a vertical posture in the water, preventing tilting from affecting measurement accuracy.

[0033] As an embodiment of the present invention: during low tide, as the water level drops, the instrument mounting frame descends under its own weight, and the current meter 4 continues to collect data. When the mudflat is completely exposed and the current meter 4 emerges from the water surface, the current meter 4 continues to collect data, but the data collected at this time is invalid data from the air environment.

[0034] As an embodiment of the present invention: the current meter 4 begins continuous data acquisition immediately after deployment, with a preset sampling frequency of, for example, 1 Hz, unaffected by water level fluctuations, and requiring no on-site hardware intervention throughout the process. During the data post-processing stage, the system automatically determines whether the current meter 4 is submerged based on a preset water depth threshold (e.g., water depth > 0.2 m) or the signal quality criterion of the current meter 4. Invalid data collected during periods above the water surface are marked as invalid or discarded, retaining only valid data from the submerged period for current analysis. The system's continuous operating time covers the complete deployment-recovery cycle (≥ 26 hours), and the actual valid data is the cumulative duration of each high tide submersion period.

[0035] As an embodiment of the present invention: This embodiment is an optimization based on Embodiment 1. The support frame 1 is made of pine or fir wood that has undergone anti-corrosion treatment to reduce costs and facilitate manual piling operations. Wood also has good corrosion resistance in seawater environments. Both the T-shaped transverse bar 2 and the T-shaped longitudinal bar 5 are made of 304 or 316L stainless steel to improve the device's resistance to seawater corrosion and structural strength. The length of the T-shaped transverse bar 2 is set according to the dimensions of the support frame 1 and the allowable range of motion of the current meter 4, generally not less than 0.5 m. The connecting rope 8 is a high-strength connecting rope with a diameter of 6-12 mm, characterized by seawater corrosion resistance, aging resistance, and low elongation. All connection points are secured with anti-loosening knots or rope buckles to ensure a firm connection under wave impact. The foam buoy 6 is made of high-density closed-cell foam plastic, with a polyethylene or polyurethane protective layer on its spherical outer surface to prevent seawater erosion and biological attachment. The size of the buoy is determined based on the total weight of the current meter 4 and the counterweight 7, generally selecting a buoy with a diameter of 200-400 mm. The counterweight 7 is made of cast iron or lead, with a weight ranging from 5 to 20 kg, and its surface is treated with rust prevention. The counterweight 7 has a streamlined or spherical shape to reduce water flow resistance.

[0036] This device can adapt to sea areas with different tidal characteristics: for semi-diurnal tidal areas (tidal cycle of approximately 12.5 hours), the device can operate continuously covering multiple tidal cycles; for diurnal or mixed tidal areas, the device can operate continuously for at least 26 hours after deployment, covering the complete spring tide-neap tide observation window. The actual effective measurement duration depends on the flooding period of the deployment location, and the device design is fully adapted to this natural condition.

[0037] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or basic characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within the present invention.

[0038] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter, comprising a support frame, a T-shaped transverse rod, a connecting cylinder, a current meter, a T-shaped longitudinal rod, a foam float, a counterweight, a connecting rope, and a portable fixing mechanism, characterized in that: Both ends of the T-shaped transverse bar are connected to the support frame. A connecting cylinder is installed on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse bar, and a T-shaped longitudinal bar is installed on the circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder. A current meter is installed below the T-shaped longitudinal bar, a foam buoy is installed above the current meter, and a counterweight is installed below the current meter. The foam buoy is connected to the T-shaped longitudinal bar and the upper end of the current meter by a connecting rope. The lower end of the current meter is connected to the counterweight by a connecting rope. A portable fixing mechanism is installed on the circumferential surface of each support frame. The portable fixing mechanism includes a portable fixing shell, a drive motor, a support frame limiting rod, a drive gear, a driven gear, an external wrapping tube, a height limiting ring, and a spiral blade.

2. The device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: Support connecting blocks are installed at both ends of the T-shaped transverse bar. The support connecting blocks penetrate the circumferential surface of the support frame. Two sets of limiting rods are installed on the circumferential surface of the T-shaped transverse bar. Each set of limiting rods consists of two rods, and the two limiting rods in each set are 180° apart with respect to the T-shaped transverse bar as the axis.

3. The device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the T-shaped transverse rod is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting cylinder, and the connection between the two is a movable sleeve structure, allowing the T-shaped longitudinal rod to rotate around the T-shaped transverse rod. The T-shaped transverse rod is located between two sets of limiting rods, and the distance between the two sets of limiting rods is slightly greater than the length of the T-shaped transverse rod.

4. The device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support frame is made of wood and is used to fix it to the intertidal mudflats by manual piling during low tide. The T-shaped horizontal bars and T-shaped longitudinal bars are both made of stainless steel.

5. The device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to claim 4, characterized in that: The weight is used to keep the current meter stable in the vertical direction, and the weight of the weight is greater than 5 kg. The connecting rope is made of polyethylene rope.

6. The device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting seat is installed on the upper surface of the portable fixed shell, and the limiting rod of the support frame passes through the limiting seat and the support frame. A portable handle is installed on the side surface of the limiting seat, and a height limiting ring is installed on the circumferential surface of the outer wrapping tube. The height limiting ring is connected to the portable fixed shell through a limiting track.

7. The device for measuring intertidal currents using a fixed current meter according to claim 6, characterized in that: The portable fixed shell contains a drive motor, a drive gear is mounted on the upper surface of the drive motor, a driven gear is mounted on the circumferential surface of the outer casing, the drive gear and the driven gear mesh with each other, a helical blade is mounted on the circumferential surface of the outer casing, and the drive motor is electrically connected to an external generator.

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