Positioning buoy capable of automatically adjusting laying depth of hydrophone array

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of overwater monitoring equipment, and particularly relates to a positioning buoy capable of automatically adjusting the laying depth of a hydrophone array. The utility model provides a positioning buoy capable of automatically adjusting the laying depth of a hydrophone array. The positioning buoy comprises a depth sensor, a cable assembly and a communication assembly. When the laying depth of the hydrophone array needs to be adjusted, the controller firstly reads a measurement value of the depth sensor. And if the measured value does not accord with the preset target depth, the controller sends an instruction to the motor, so that the motor rotates the cable roller by a certain angle according to the preset direction, and the deeper cable is released or withdrawn. And the depth of the hydrophone array connected with the deeper cable is changed along with the change of the length of the deeper cable. By adjusting the depth of the hydrophone array, the positioning buoy can be suitable for wide-range underwater acoustic passive monitoring work, and is particularly suitable for being matched with a detected acoustic target which actively produces sound, such as an underwater vehicle on which an acoustic beacon is hung, so that an underwater positioning system is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of water monitoring equipment, and in particular relates to a positioning buoy capable of autonomously adjusting the deployment depth of a hydrophone array. Background Art

[0002] Hydrophone arrays are widely used in oceanographic research, environmental monitoring, and military reconnaissance. To obtain more accurate data, the depth of the hydrophone array often needs to be adjusted according to different mission requirements. Currently, adjusting the depth of the hydrophone array relies primarily on manual operation, which is inefficient and difficult to precisely control.

[0003] Chinese patent CN202221546209.4 discloses an acoustic buoy device that can implement variable-depth active detection. It achieves variable-depth active detection through a variable-depth acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver. However, the energy consumption of its acoustic transmitter in continuous operation and driving the acoustic transmitter to change depth is relatively high, and the monitoring range is limited by the range of action of the acoustic transmitter. Therefore, it is not suitable for long-term, large-scale passive positioning monitoring, nor is it suitable for monitoring actively sounding beacons.

[0004] Therefore, how to provide a positioning buoy that can automatically adjust the deployment depth of a hydrophone array is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently in this field. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the existing phenomenon, the utility model provides a positioning buoy that can autonomously adjust the deployment depth of a hydrophone array, thereby solving at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0006] The first technical solution provided by this application is: a positioning buoy that autonomously adjusts the deployment depth of a hydrophone array, comprising: a communication component, a buoyancy member, an electronic cabin, a cable assembly, a variable-depth hydrophone array, and a depth sensor;

[0007] The communication component is arranged on the upper side of the buoyancy member, including an antenna for sending and receiving signals and a positioning member for positioning. The buoyancy member provides buoyancy to at least keep the communication component above the water surface. A controller electrically connected to the communication component, cable assembly and variable depth hydrophone array is provided in the electronic cabin; the cable assembly includes a cable roller, a variable depth cable wound around the cable roller and a motor that drives the cable roller to retract and extend the variable depth cable. The variable depth cable is connected to the variable depth hydrophone array and the depth sensor.

[0008] Furthermore, the cable assembly includes a cable cabin, the cable roller is arranged in the cable cabin, and the cable cabin and the buoyancy member are relatively fixed.

[0009] Furthermore, the cable assembly includes multiple sets of one-to-one corresponding variable-depth cables and cable rollers.

[0010] Furthermore, a plurality of cable rollers are arranged coaxially vertically.

[0011] Furthermore, it includes guide wheels fixed relatively to the cable compartment and corresponding one to one with the cable rollers. The deepening cables wound on each cable roller pass through the corresponding guide wheels and extend out of the bottom of the cable compartment. Multiple guide wheels are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cable compartment to prevent the deepening cables from being entangled with each other.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a depth-fixing hydrophone array with a relatively fixed distance from the buoyancy member, and the cable assembly also includes a depth-fixing cable electrically connected to the controller, and the depth-fixing hydrophone array is connected to the depth-fixing cable.

[0013] Furthermore, the variable-depth hydrophone array includes a plurality of hydrophone arrays with different monitoring directions.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention also includes a depth-variable fixing frame for limiting the attitude of the depth-variable hydrophone array, and the depth-variable fixing frame is connected to the end of the depth-variable cable.

[0015] Furthermore, two variable-depth hydrophone arrays with monitoring directions perpendicular to each other are connected in the variable-depth fixing frame.

[0016] Furthermore, the variable depth hydrophone array is cylindrical and consists of a plurality of axially arrayed disk-type hydrophones.

[0017] The beneficial effect of the present application is that it provides a positioning buoy that can autonomously adjust the depth of the hydrophone array, including a depth sensor, a cable assembly and a communication assembly. The communication assembly is used to communicate with external devices, including receiving positioning signals such as GPS, Beidou, and communicating with water or land communication facilities to receive instructions or return information. When the depth of the hydrophone array needs to be adjusted, the controller first reads the measurement value of the depth sensor. If the measurement value does not match the preset target depth, the controller will send a command to the motor to rotate the cable roller by a certain angle in a predetermined direction, thereby causing the deepening cable to be released or retracted. As the length of the deepening cable changes, the depth of the hydrophone array connected to it also changes. When the depth detected by the depth sensor is consistent with the target depth, the controller stops the motor and completes a depth adjustment process. By adjusting the depth of the hydrophone array, this positioning buoy can be applied to a wide range of underwater acoustic passive monitoring work. Compared with the active sound positioning buoys in the prior art that emit sound by themselves and use the sound reflection of the object to be measured for positioning, the variable depth hydrophone array of the present application is particularly suitable for large-scale monitoring of autonomously sounding acoustic targets, such as underwater vehicles equipped with acoustic beacons, to form an underwater positioning system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In these drawings, similar reference numerals are used to represent similar elements. The drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention, but not all. Those skilled in the art can derive other drawings from these drawings without inventive effort.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the interior of the middle cable compartment 42;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic top view of the interior of the middle cable compartment 42;

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Internal schematic diagram of the medium-variable depth hydrophone array 51;

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the mid-depth fixing frame 7.

[0024] Reference numerals:

[0025] Communication component 1, antenna 11, positioning part 12; buoyancy part 2, electronic cabin 3, variable depth cable 41, cable cabin 42, cable roller 43, guide wheel 44, motor 45, variable depth hydrophone array 51, fixed depth hydrophone array 52, disc hydrophone 53, depth sensor 6, variable depth fixing bracket 7, horizontal mounting seat 71, vertical mounting seat 72, stabilizing rope 73. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and can refer to internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature may include the first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature may include the first feature being directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0029] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and other orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely for ease of description and simplified operation. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used solely for descriptive purposes and have no special meanings.

[0030] refer to Figures 1 to 5 , the present disclosure provides a positioning buoy capable of autonomously adjusting the deployment depth of a hydrophone array, comprising: a communication component 1, a buoyancy member 2, an electronic compartment 3, a cable assembly, a variable depth hydrophone array 51 and a depth sensor 6;

[0031] The communication component 1 is arranged on the upper side of the buoyancy member 2, and includes an antenna 11 for sending and receiving signals and a positioning member 12 for positioning. The buoyancy member 2 provides buoyancy to at least keep the communication component 1 above the water surface. The electronic cabin 3 is equipped with a battery and a controller electrically connected to the communication component 1, the cable assembly and the hydrophone array; the cable assembly includes a cable roller 43, a depth-changing cable 41 wound around the cable roller 43 and a motor 45 for driving the cable roller 43 to retract and extend the depth-changing cable 41; the depth-changing cable 41 is connected to the depth-changing hydrophone array 51 and the depth sensor 6.

[0032] Communication component 1 is used to communicate with external devices, including receiving positioning signals such as GPS and Beidou, as well as communicating with marine or land-based communication facilities to receive instructions or transmit information. Motor 45 can be powered by a battery or a generator. A hydrophone array is composed of multiple hydrophones that convert underwater acoustic signals into electrical signals. This array of hydrophones can then interpret the acoustic signals to determine the location of the sound source based on the information contained in the acoustic signals, achieving positioning.

[0033] When the deployment depth of the hydrophone array needs to be adjusted, the controller first reads the measurement value of the depth sensor 6. If the measurement value does not match the preset target depth, the controller will send a command to the motor 45 to rotate the cable roller 43 by a certain angle in a predetermined direction, thereby causing the variable depth cable 41 to be released or retracted. As the length of the variable depth cable 41 changes, the depth of the variable depth hydrophone array 51 connected to it also changes. When the depth detected by the depth sensor 6 is consistent with the target depth, the controller stops the motor 45 and completes a depth adjustment process. By adjusting the depth of the variable depth hydrophone array 51, this positioning buoy can be used for a wide range of passive underwater acoustic monitoring. Compared with the active sounding positioning buoys in the prior art that emit sound by themselves and use the sound reflection of the object to be measured for positioning, the variable depth positioning buoy of the present application is particularly suitable for large-scale monitoring of autonomously sounding acoustic targets, such as underwater vehicles equipped with acoustic beacons, to form an underwater positioning system.

[0034] In some embodiments, the positioning buoy may also be provided with an interrogator to cooperate with the transponder of the measured target.

[0035] In this embodiment, the cable assembly includes a cable compartment 42, within which a cable roller 43 is disposed. The cable compartment 42 is fixed relative to the buoyancy member 2. The cable compartment 42 is configured to accommodate at least the cable roller wound with the variable depth cable 41. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the cable compartment 42 can also be used to install an anti-entanglement device and to mount components that are not deployed or retrieved with the variable depth cable 41, such as a hydrophone array or sensors used to monitor targets within a specific depth range.

[0036] In this embodiment, the cable assembly includes multiple sets of one-to-one corresponding depth-changing cables 41 and cable rollers 43. The posture of the hydrophone array will affect the monitoring range and positioning accuracy. In some usage scenarios, the hydrophone array connected by a single cable can only connect the hydrophone at one point, which has a large degree of freedom and cannot meet the posture stability requirements in ocean currents. The provision of multiple depth-changing cables 41 can reduce the degree of freedom, making the posture of the depth-changing hydrophone array 51 more stable. To reduce the entanglement of multiple depth-changing cables 41, each depth-changing cable 41 is provided on a different cable roller. Specifically, this embodiment includes four depth-changing cables 41 and four cable rollers 43. The four depth-changing cables 41 provide four connection points for the depth-changing hydrophone array 51, thereby improving posture stability.

[0037] like Figure 2 In this embodiment, multiple cable rollers 43 are arranged in a vertical coaxial array to maximize space utilization, reduce the water-facing area of the cable compartment 42, and facilitate setting the cable compartment 42 into a slender cylinder, thereby reducing water resistance and reducing buoy movement.

[0038] like Figures 2 and 3 In this embodiment, it includes guide wheels 44 that are relatively fixed to the cable compartment 42 and correspond one-to-one to the cable rollers 43. The variable-depth cables 41 wound around each cable roller 43 pass through the corresponding guide wheels 44 and then extend out of the bottom of the cable compartment 42. Multiple guide wheels 44 are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cable compartment 42 to prevent the variable-depth cables 41 from being entangled with each other.

[0039] Specifically, if Figures 2 and 3 This embodiment includes four groups of guide wheels 44 located at different axial positions and evenly distributed circumferentially, so that the four variable-depth cables 41 extend from different circumferential positions of the cable compartment 42.

[0040] In this embodiment, the hydrophone array also includes a depth-fixing hydrophone array 52 at a relatively fixed distance from the buoyancy member 2. The cable assembly also includes a depth-fixing cable electrically connected to the controller, with the depth-fixing hydrophone array 52 connected to the depth-fixing cable. The depth-fixing cable is independent of the depth-variable cable 41. The hydrophone array connected to it can be used to routinely monitor waters of a specific, commonly used depth, reducing the frequency of adjusting the depth-variable cable 41 and allowing the hydrophone array connected to the depth-variable cable 41 to cover more water areas.

[0041] Specifically, the depth-fixing cable in this embodiment is arranged inside the cable compartment 42 , and the hydrophone array connected thereto is fixed to the bottom of the cable compartment 42 .

[0042] In some embodiments, a positioning buoy may include multiple hydrophone arrays with different monitoring directions. Depending on the array configuration, the hydrophone arrays may have different acoustic signal sensitivities in different directions and regions. Therefore, a positioning buoy may preferably have multiple hydrophone arrays of the same configuration with different postures to ensure high-precision monitoring covering as much water as possible.

[0043] This embodiment also includes a depth-variable fixing bracket 7 for limiting the posture of the depth-variable hydrophone array 51. The depth-variable fixing bracket 7 is connected to the ends of the four depth-variable cables 41. The depth-variable fixing bracket 7 itself has good posture stability, allowing the depth-variable hydrophone array 51 to maintain a specific posture. The specific structure of the depth-variable fixing bracket 7 can be designed based on the posture requirements of the depth-variable hydrophone array 51. Specifically, in this embodiment, the depth-variable fixing bracket 7 is arranged in layers, including a horizontal mounting base 71 on the upper layer for mounting the depth-variable hydrophone array 51 with its axis parallel to the horizontal plane, and a vertical mounting base 72 on the lower layer for mounting the depth-variable hydrophone array 51 with its axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The lower layer also has a stabilizing rope 73 for pulling the depth-variable hydrophone array 51 to maintain posture stability.

[0044] Compared with the solution of using cables as structural connectors at the same time, the use of the variable depth fixing frame 7 to install the variable depth hydrophone array 51 greatly improves the connection stability and attitude stability, and can more accurately and stably control the relative relationship of each hydrophone array, which is beneficial to improving the overall positioning accuracy of the positioning buoy. It is particularly suitable for installing a variable depth hydrophone array 51 that requires depth adjustment, especially a hydrophone array for autonomous depth adjustment in an unmanned buoy, reducing maintenance requirements.

[0045] In this embodiment, two variable-depth hydrophone arrays 51 with monitoring directions perpendicular to each other are connected to the variable-depth fixing frame 7. Arranging this type of hydrophone array in this manner can achieve a relatively ideal monitoring range and monitoring sensitivity under the condition of using only two variable-depth hydrophone arrays 51, and has high economic efficiency.

[0046] In this embodiment, the variable depth hydrophone array 51 is cylindrical and consists of a plurality of axially arrayed disc-type hydrophones 51. Hydrophone arrays arranged in this manner are relatively common, versatile, and low-cost. However, such hydrophone arrays have obvious vertical directivity and require the coordinated use of multiple hydrophones in different postures to cover as much detection range as possible.

[0047] The contents described above can be implemented individually or in combination in various ways, and these variations are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0048] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply the existence of any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article, or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or device. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the statement "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or device comprising the element.

[0049] The above content is a further detailed description of the present invention in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, and the specific embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art of the present invention, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and all of these should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A positioning buoy capable of autonomously adjusting the deployment depth of a hydrophone array, characterized in that: include: Communication assembly (1), buoyancy member (2), electronic compartment (3), cable assembly, variable depth hydrophone array (51) and depth sensor (6); The communication component (1) is arranged on the upper side of the buoyancy member (2), and includes an antenna (11) for transmitting and receiving signals and a positioning member (12) for positioning. The buoyancy member (2) provides buoyancy to at least keep the communication component (1) above the water surface. The electronic compartment (3) is provided with a controller electrically connected to the communication component (1), the cable component and the variable depth hydrophone array (51). The cable assembly includes a cable roller (43), a variable depth cable (41) wound around the cable roller (43) and a motor (45) for driving the cable roller (43) to retract and release the variable depth cable (41). The variable depth cable (41) is connected to the variable depth hydrophone array (51) and the depth sensor (6).

2. The positioning buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable assembly comprises a cable compartment (42), the cable roller (43) is arranged in the cable compartment (42), and the cable compartment (42) and the buoyancy member (2) are relatively fixed.

3. The positioning buoy according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cable assembly includes multiple sets of one-to-one corresponding variable-depth cables (41) and cable rollers (43).

4. The positioning buoy according to claim 3, characterized in that: A plurality of the cable rollers (43) are arranged in a vertical coaxial array.

5. The positioning buoy according to claim 3, characterized in that: The invention comprises a guide wheel (44) fixed relatively to the cable compartment (42) and corresponding to the cable roller (43) one by one. The variable-depth cable (41) wound around each cable roller (43) is wound around the corresponding guide wheel (44) and then extends out of the bottom of the cable compartment (42). A plurality of guide wheels (44) are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cable compartment (42) to prevent the variable-depth cables (41) from being entangled with each other.

6. The positioning buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a depth-fixing hydrophone array (52) at a relatively fixed distance from the buoyancy member (2), and the cable assembly further includes a depth-fixing cable electrically connected to the controller, and the depth-fixing hydrophone array (52) is connected to the depth-fixing cable.

7. The positioning buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that: The variable-depth hydrophone array (51) comprises a plurality of hydrophone arrays with different monitoring directions.

8. The positioning buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a depth-changing fixing frame (7) for limiting the posture of the depth-changing hydrophone array (51), and the depth-changing fixing frame (7) is connected to the end of the depth-changing cable (41).

9. The positioning buoy according to claim 8, characterized in that: The variable depth fixing frame (7) is internally connected to the variable depth hydrophone array (51) whose two monitoring directions are perpendicular to each other.

10. The positioning buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The variable depth hydrophone array (51) is cylindrical and consists of a plurality of axially arrayed disk-type hydrophones (53).

Images