Disposable temperature-salinity-depth gauge

Abstract

The utility model relates to a disposable temperature-salinity-depth instrument, which comprises a launching buoy and a temperature-salinity-depth instrument probe, the launching buoy is of a cavity structure, the temperature-salinity-depth instrument probe is arranged in the cavity structure and located at the lower end of the launching buoy, and a data acquisition circuit board and a LoRa launching circuit board are arranged in the cavity structure; the input end of the data acquisition circuit board is connected with the temperature-salinity-depth instrument probe, and the output end of the data acquisition circuit board is connected with the input end of the LoRa transmitting circuit board; the LoRa transmitting antenna is arranged at the upper end of the transmitting buoy, and the input end of the LoRa transmitting antenna is connected with the output end of the LoRa transmitting circuit board. The disposable temperature-salinity-depth meter provided by the utility model is simple and compact in structure, convenient in data transmission, stable and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of temperature, salinity and depth measurement technology, and in particular to a disposable temperature, salinity and depth meter. Background Technology

[0002] Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth's surface and play a vital role in global climate and ecosystems. Temperature, salinity, and depth (TDT) are important physical parameters of seawater, used for climate observation, tracking seawater quality, and building ocean dynamics models. High-precision marine environmental TDT data can contribute to a better understanding of the dynamic changes in the marine environment, providing more accurate data support for early warning and emergency response to marine disasters, and reducing the losses caused by disasters.

[0003] Salinity measurement is primarily achieved using Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) meters. The disposable CTD (XCTD), as a low-cost CTD instrument, is widely used in ocean observation due to its low-cost probe that does not require retrieval, and the fact that the deck and display unit are operated onboard and reusable.

[0004] However, the current XCTD structure is complex and costly, which puts significant economic pressure on large-scale marine monitoring deployments. Furthermore, the data transmission methods are not convenient enough. For example, some wired transmission devices are easily limited in their scope and flexibility of use in actual marine exploration; while some wireless transmission devices are prone to problems such as limited transmission distance and susceptibility to signal interference, making it difficult to meet the demand for real-time and accurate data transmission in complex marine environments. Utility Model Content

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge that is simple in structure, low in cost, and convenient for data transmission to address the aforementioned technical problems.

[0006] A disposable CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) meter includes a launch float and a CTD probe. The launch float has a hollow structure, and the CTD probe is disposed within the hollow structure at the lower end of the launch float. A data acquisition circuit board and a LoRa transmission circuit board are disposed within the hollow structure. The input terminal of the data acquisition circuit board is connected to the CTD probe, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminal of the LoRa transmission circuit board. A LoRa transmission antenna is disposed at the upper end of the launch float, and the input terminal of the LoRa transmission antenna is connected to the output terminal of the LoRa transmission circuit board.

[0007] In one embodiment, a lower cover plate is also provided; the surface of the lower cover plate abuts against the lower end of the launching float and is fixed by a connecting line; when the connecting line melts, the lower cover plate opens to release the temperature, salinity and depth gauge probe.

[0008] In one embodiment, a lower cover plate is also provided; one end of the lower cover plate is hinged to the lower end of the launching float; the other end abuts against the launching float and is fixed by a connecting line; when the connecting line melts, the lower cover plate opens outward with gravity around the hinged end as an axis.

[0009] In one embodiment, an upper cover plate is also provided; the upper cover plate is fixed to the upper end of the transmitting float, and the LoRa transmitting antenna is disposed inside the upper cover plate.

[0010] In one embodiment, a first sealed chamber is provided at the upper end of the temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe, and the data acquisition circuit board is located inside the first sealed chamber.

[0011] In one embodiment, a second sealed chamber is provided near the top of the launch float, and the LoRa launch circuit board is located inside the second sealed chamber.

[0012] In one embodiment, the data acquisition circuit board is connected to the LoRa transmitting circuit board via enameled wire.

[0013] In one embodiment, the temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe includes a temperature sensor and a conductivity probe; an electromagnetic shielding shell is disposed on the outer periphery of the conductivity probe.

[0014] In one embodiment, the electromagnetic shielding shell is made of copper, aluminum, or steel.

[0015] In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is encapsulated in an electromagnetically shielded housing, and the probe of the temperature sensor is in direct contact with seawater.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge provided by this utility model has the following advantages:

[0017] 1. By integrating the temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe, data acquisition circuit board, and LoRa transmitter circuit board within the cavity structure of the transmitter float, this compact integration reduces the overall space occupied by the device, making it more miniaturized. Simultaneously, it avoids complex external wiring and connection issues between multiple devices, improving the device's stability and reliability.

[0018] 2. Using LoRa transmitting circuit board and LoRa transmitting antenna for data transmission enables stable data transmission over long distances. Furthermore, LoRa technology allows for the simultaneous acquisition of data from multiple temperature, salinity, and depth (TDM) instruments, increasing data acquisition efficiency and enabling the exploration of ocean salinity variation patterns in different geographical locations.

[0019] 3. The data acquisition circuit board and LoRa transmitter circuit board can be configured for low power consumption, ensuring that the device can work for a long time and reducing the hassle of frequently changing power supplies. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a discardable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge provided in one embodiment;

[0022] Figure 2 An isometric view of a launch float provided in one embodiment;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the temperature, salinity, and depth instrument detection system 2 provided in one embodiment;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a block diagram of the internal hardware structure of the launch float provided in one embodiment.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] Launch float 1, CTD detection system 2, CTD probe 20, outlet 21, guide pipe 22, temperature sensor 23, conductivity probe 24, data acquisition circuit board 3, LoRa transmitting circuit board 4, LoRa transmitting antenna 5, upper cover plate 6, lower cover plate 7, connecting wire 8, first sealed chamber 9, second sealed chamber 10, first enameled wire 11, enameled wire receiving cavity 12, second enameled wire 13.

[0027] The purpose, features, and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0029] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0030] Furthermore, in this utility model, the use of terms such as "first," "second," etc., is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0031] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection, a connection, a physical connection, or a wireless communication connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] It is understood that the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of a person skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the protection scope claimed by this utility model.

[0033] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] See Figures 1 to 3The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth (TDT) meter provided in this embodiment includes a launching float 1 and a TDT probe 20. The launching float 1 is a hollow structure made of plastic. The TDT probe 20 is disposed inside the hollow structure and located at the lower end of the launching float 1. Inside the hollow structure, a data acquisition circuit board 3 and a LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 are disposed. The input end of the data acquisition circuit board 3 is connected to the TDT probe 20, and the output end is connected to the input end of the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4. At the upper end of the launching float 1, a LoRa transmitting antenna 5 is disposed, and the input end of the LoRa transmitting antenna 5 is connected to the output end of the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4.

[0035] Specifically, the launching float 1 is a cylindrical cavity structure with an upper cover plate 6 and a lower cover plate 7, which seal both ends of the launching float 1 to form a sealed cavity. The upper cover plate 6 is detachably fixed to the upper end of the launching float 1, and the detachment method includes, but is not limited to, snap-fit ​​connection, magnetic connection, and plug-in connection. A receiving slot is formed on the upper cover plate 6, and the LoRa transmitting antenna 5 is placed in the receiving slot. The position of the receiving slot is set according to requirements. In this embodiment, the receiving slot is located in the center and coaxial with the launching float 1 and the temperature, salinity, and depth gauge probe 20.

[0036] The lower cover plate 7 has two configuration methods. The first method involves having several fixing parts on the lower cover plate 7 and several connecting lines 8 inside the launching float 1. These connecting lines 8 connect to the fixing parts, allowing the upper surface of the lower cover plate 7 to abut against the lower end of the launching float 1. Each connecting line 8 is connected to a fusible switch. After a preset time, the fusible switch melts the connecting line 8 as the temperature rises, completely detaching and opening the lower cover plate 7, releasing the temperature-salinity-depth meter probe 20. In this first method, the number of fixing parts can be greater than or equal to the number of connecting lines 8, allowing for adjustment of the connection positions of the connecting lines 8 as needed.

[0037] The second method involves hinged lower cover plate 7 at one end to the lower end of launch float 1; the other end is equipped with a fixing part, which is connected to the launching float 1 via connecting line 8; when connecting line 8 melts, lower cover plate 7 opens outwards with gravity around the hinged end, releasing the temperature, salinity, and depth gauge probe 20. It can be understood that the fixing part on lower cover plate 7 can be a through hole or a ring-like component to facilitate the connection and fixation of connecting line 8, depending on the specific situation. The position of the fusible switch is determined based on the space inside the launching float 1, and will not be elaborated here. One end of connecting line 8 is connected to the fusible switch, and the other end is connected to the fixing part of lower cover plate 7.

[0038] Inside the cavity of the launch float 1, a temperature, salinity, and depth (TDM) probe 20 is installed near the lower end. The TDM probe 20 has a cylindrical outer shell that tapers downwards, made of a high-pressure resistant shell, thus able to withstand the pressure of deep seawater without deformation. Inside the TDM probe 20, a temperature sensor 23 and a conductivity probe 24 are installed. The contact points between the outer shell of the TDM probe 20 and the temperature sensor 23 and conductivity probe 24 are waterproofed with embedded rubber.

[0039] A flow guide tube 22 is axially arranged at the center of the temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe 20. The flow guide tube is a cylindrical structure that runs through both ends. The temperature sensor 23 is installed against the outer wall of the flow guide tube 22, and the probe at the tail end is located at the lower end of the flow guide tube 22 to directly contact the seawater. The conductivity probe 24 is arranged circumferentially around the outer periphery of the flow guide tube 22. In this way, the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24 can measure the same seawater sample at the same time, ensuring the accuracy of the data. Preferably, the temperature sensor 23 is an NTC thermistor, and the conductivity probe 24 is a dual-transformer inductive conductivity probe.

[0040] Furthermore, the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24 are encapsulated in an electromagnetic shielding housing. Electromagnetic shielding can be applied only to the conductivity probe 24, or both the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24 can be electromagnetically shielded simultaneously. Specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, the conductivity probe 24 consists of two annular magnetic cores, with an electromagnetic shielding shell circumferentially encased on the side of each core furthest from the guide tube 22. During encapsulation, the electromagnetic shielding shell can be placed on each core separately, or both cores can be encased in a single shell. When both the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24 are electromagnetically shielded, a single shell is used, with the height of the shell not less than the vertical length of the temperature sensor 23 within the guide tube 22. When external electromagnetic interference exists, the free electrons inside the shielding shell move under the influence of the electromagnetic field, generating an eddy current magnetic field that cancels out the external magnetic field of the marine environment, thus achieving electromagnetic shielding.

[0041] It is understandable that the electromagnetic shielding shell should be able to accommodate the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24. For example, it can be an irregular shape that is compatible with the overall shape of the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24; it can also be a regular cylindrical structure, where the cross-section of the cylindrical structure can be circular, polygonal, etc., and the specific shape is set according to the requirements. The electromagnetic shielding shell is generally made of copper, aluminum, or steel. During manufacturing, the electromagnetic shielding shell can be integrally formed with the guide tube 22, or it can be manufactured separately and then assembled accordingly.

[0042] At the upper end of the CTD probe 20, a water outlet 21 is provided, which is connected to a guide pipe 22. Seawater flows in through the guide pipe 22 and out through the water outlet 21, forming a flow path. As the CTD probe 20 is launched and falls, seawater is continuously refreshed through this path to achieve conductivity measurements at different profiles. The number of water outlets 21 is determined according to requirements, generally two or more. In this embodiment, four are arranged circumferentially to facilitate more comprehensive measurement results.

[0043] At the upper end of the outlet 21, a first sealed chamber 9 is provided. The data acquisition circuit board 3 is located inside the first sealed chamber 9 and is coaxially arranged with the first sealed chamber 9. At the upper end of the first sealed chamber 9, an enameled wire receiving cavity 12 is also provided, in which a first enameled wire 11 is placed coaxially. The input end of the data acquisition circuit board 3 is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24 in the temperature, salinity and depth meter probe 20, and the output end is electrically connected to the first enameled wire 11 in the enameled wire receiving cavity 12.

[0044] The temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe 20, outlet 21, first sealed chamber 9, and enameled wire receiving cavity 12 together form a structure as follows: Figure 3 The overall structure of the CTD detection system 2 is shown, and it is launched together. At the tail end of the CTD, that is, at the upper end of the enameled wire housing cavity 12, there are 4 displacements arranged in a circumferential direction to ensure that the entire CTD remains balanced in seawater.

[0045] Near the top of the launching float 1, below the upper cover plate 6, a second sealed chamber 10 is provided. The LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 is located inside the second sealed chamber and is coaxially arranged with the second sealed chamber 10. Below the second sealed chamber 10, a second enameled wire 13 is provided. The input terminal of the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 is electrically connected to the second enameled wire 13, and the output terminal is electrically connected to the LoRa transmitting antenna 5. At the same time, the first enameled wire 11 and the second enameled wire 13 are connected, preferably from the same enameled wire, and perform unidirectional data transmission, thereby enabling the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 to complete unidirectional data transmission. During operation, the first enameled wire 11 and the second enameled wire 13 can be extended as the temperature, salinity, and depth instrument detection system 2 descends. It is worth noting that both the first sealed chamber 9 and the second sealed chamber 10 need to be waterproofed to prevent the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 from becoming damp and failing.

[0046] In addition, power supplies are installed in the first sealed chamber 9 and the second sealed chamber 10 to provide power for the normal operation of the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4. The power supply in the first sealed chamber 9 is processed by the data acquisition circuit board 3 to provide excitation for the sensor.

[0047] In this embodiment, the data acquisition circuit board 3 is mainly used for generating excitation signals, preliminary processing of conductivity and temperature signals, and control of the fuse switch, without performing complex data processing. Specifically, the data acquisition circuit board 3 uses a low-cost main control unit for preliminary processing of conductivity and temperature signals and control of the fuse switch; the excitation signal is generated by a Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) to produce a sinusoidal alternating signal with adjustable frequency and amplitude, and then directly connected to the excitation coil of the conductivity probe 24 through the data line connecting the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe 20. The temperature signal is measured by driving an NTC thermistor with a constant voltage source. The NTC thermistor is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor, a resistor made of semiconductor material whose resistance decreases as the temperature increases. When the constant voltage source is added to the circuit, a voltage is generated across the thermistor, and the voltage changes accordingly when the temperature changes. The weak alternating signal output by the conductivity probe 24 cannot be directly acquired by the AD converter. This weak alternating signal needs to be processed by the data acquisition circuit board 3, including signal amplification, high-pass filtering, and AC-DC conversion. Simultaneously, to reduce power consumption, the I / O pins of the main control system are used to control the switching of power chips, etc. Before the set time for the temperature, salinity, and depth instrument detection system 2 to transmit, most chips on the main control chip control circuit board are in a sleep state. Only the main control unit and some power modules are active on the data acquisition circuit board 3, while other modules remain in a sleep state, significantly reducing power consumption.

[0048] The LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 is mainly used for wireless data transmission. After the data acquisition circuit board 3 transmits data to the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 through the enameled wire, the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 sends the data to the LoRa wireless acquisition system on the ship's deck through the LoRa transmitting antenna 5.

[0049] During operation, before the launching float 1 is deployed, the LoRa transmitting antenna 5 is installed in the receiving slot of the upper cover plate 6. The input end of the LoRa transmitting antenna 5 is connected to the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 inside the launching float 1; the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 is directly connected to the second enameled wire 13. The second enameled wire 13 is connected to the first enameled wire 11 inside the CTD detection system 2. At the same time, the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 are set to low power mode, and the lower cover plate 7 remains sealed to ensure that the CTD detection system 2 does not over-release.

[0050] When the preset time point is reached, the data acquisition circuit board 3 transmits a voltage signal to the fuse switch. As the temperature rises, the fuse switch melts when it reaches a critical value, causing the connecting wire 8 to melt and the lower cover 7 to open, thereby releasing the temperature, salinity, and depth measuring instrument (TSTEM) detection system 2. Simultaneously, the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 exit low-power mode, activating the data acquisition function of the data acquisition circuit board 3 and the wireless transmission function of the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4, and establishing a corresponding communication connection with the ship's deck.

[0051] The CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) Detection System 2 is released into the ocean. The CTD probe 20 contacts the seawater, which flows in and out through the passage formed by the guide pipe 22 and the outlet 21. The temperature sensor 23 and the conductivity probe 24 collect data in real time and upload it to the data acquisition circuit board 3. After preliminary processing of the data, the data acquisition circuit board 3 transmits it unidirectionally to the LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 through the enameled wire. The LoRa transmitting circuit board 4 sends the data to the terminal on the ship's deck for processing through the LoRa transmitting antenna 5.

[0052] In addition, the launch buoy 1 can be connected to the ship's deck by a thin rope to facilitate the recovery of the discardable temperature, salinity and depth gauge in good sea conditions.

[0053] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0054] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A disposable temperature, salinity, and depth (TDT) meter, comprising a launch buoy and a TDT probe, wherein the launch buoy has a hollow structure, and the TDT probe is disposed within the hollow structure and located at the lower end of the launch buoy, characterized in that: Inside the cavity structure, a data acquisition circuit board and a LoRa transmission circuit board are installed; the input end of the data acquisition circuit board is connected to the temperature, salinity and depth meter probe, and the output end is connected to the input end of the LoRa transmission circuit board. A LoRa transmitting antenna is provided at the upper end of the transmitting float, and the input end of the LoRa transmitting antenna is connected to the output end of the LoRa transmitting circuit board.

2. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also has a bottom cover plate; The lower cover plate abuts against the lower end of the launch float and is fixed by a connecting line; when the connecting line melts, the lower cover plate opens and releases the temperature, salinity and depth gauge probe.

3. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also has a bottom cover plate; One end of the lower cover plate is hinged to the lower end of the launch buoy; the other end abuts against the launch buoy and is fixed by a connecting line; when the connecting line melts, the lower cover plate opens outward with gravity, using the hinged end as an axis.

4. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, It is also provided with an upper cover plate; the upper cover plate is located at the upper end of the launching float, and the LoRa transmitting antenna is located on the upper cover plate.

5. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 4, characterized in that, A first sealed chamber is provided at the upper end of the temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe, and the data acquisition circuit board is located inside the first sealed chamber.

6. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 5, characterized in that, Near the top of the launch float, a second sealed chamber is provided, and the LoRa launch circuit board is located inside the second sealed chamber.

7. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The data acquisition circuit board is connected to the LoRa transmitting circuit board via enameled wire.

8. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The temperature, salinity, and depth meter probe includes a temperature sensor and a conductivity probe; an electromagnetic shielding shell is provided on the outer periphery of the conductivity probe.

9. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 8, characterized in that, The electromagnetic shielding shell is made of copper, aluminum, or steel.

10. The disposable temperature, salinity, and depth gauge according to claim 8, characterized in that, The temperature sensor is encapsulated in an electromagnetic shielding shell, and the probe of the temperature sensor is in direct contact with seawater.

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