A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment

By using mortise and tenon joints in the composite material frame and filling it with lightweight foam, the problem of research vessels needing to be equipped with multiple sets of heavy metal deployment equipment has been solved. This has enabled multi-specification adaptation of equipment, weight reduction, and improved stability, while simplifying the equipment replacement process.

CN224427772UActive Publication Date: 2026-06-30HARBIN FRP INST

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
HARBIN FRP INST
Filing Date
2025-07-24
Publication Date
2026-06-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Research vessels need to be equipped with multiple sets of heavy metal deployment equipment to accommodate different sizes of detection devices, which leads to problems such as large space occupation, reduced effective payload, easy fatigue of connection structures, and low efficiency of replacement at sea.

Method used

The cylindrical frame, made of composite materials, utilizes mortise and tenon joints between longitudinal ribs and ring frames, combined with lightweight foam or buoyancy material filling to provide buoyancy and reduce weight, and achieves self-locking connection through dovetail grooves, avoiding the use of welding and bolts.

Benefits of technology

This technology enables a single deployment device to be compatible with various sizes of equipment, reducing equipment weight, improving connection stability and lifespan, simplifying equipment replacement, and reducing the burden on ships and the need for offshore maintenance.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This invention proposes a cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment, belonging to the field of deep-sea exploration equipment. It solves the problems of large space occupation, reduced effective payload, easy fatigue of connecting structures, and low efficiency of at-sea replacement caused by the need for research vessels to equip multiple sets of heavy metal deployment equipment to accommodate different sizes of detection devices. It includes several longitudinal ribs evenly distributed along the circumference and several ring frames evenly spaced along the length of the longitudinal ribs. Dovetail-shaped grooves are provided at the intersections of the longitudinal ribs and the ring frames. The ring frames are segmented and embedded into the grooves to form a mortise and tenon structure. Both the longitudinal ribs and the ring frames are made of composite materials. It mainly provides a lightweight composite material frame structure for research vessels that allows the same deployment equipment to accommodate multiple sizes of detection devices.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of support structure for deep-sea exploration equipment, and in particular relates to a cylindrical composite material frame for the deployment of exploration equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Deep-sea exploration is a crucial means of conducting marine scientific research, resource exploration, and environmental monitoring. Current underwater scientific research activities require the deployment of various types of detection instruments, floating structures, or observation platforms. These instruments vary significantly in size, often ranging from several hundred millimeters in diameter. Furthermore, these instruments typically require specialized deployment equipment for carrying, deploying, and recovering. This necessitates that research vessels be equipped with multiple sets of specialized deployment equipment or support structures of different sizes to accommodate instruments of varying diameters. Ships also need to pre-store multiple fixed deployment devices, occupying significant deck and cabin space and substantially reducing the ship's effective payload capacity. Moreover, these deployment devices must meet the complex operating conditions of the deep sea, including withstanding immense water pressure and... To resist seawater corrosion, provide necessary buoyancy adjustment, and maintain structural integrity and internal equipment connection stability in the high-pressure and low-temperature environment of the deep sea, existing deployment equipment mostly uses metal materials. These frames have high strength, but a single deployment equipment typically weighs tens to hundreds of kilograms. The combined weight of multiple deployment equipment further occupies the ship's carrying capacity. Moreover, the components of the deployment equipment are usually connected by welding or bolts. Welded points are prone to fatigue cracks under long-term dynamic loads and alternating pressures, while bolted connections require regular maintenance to prevent loosening, thus affecting the stability of the deployment equipment. Furthermore, replacing deployment equipment during offshore operations requires manual disassembly and reassembly, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and subject to sea conditions, making it difficult to adapt to the needs of rapid switching between multiple tasks. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose a technical field of support structure for deep-sea exploration equipment, in order to solve the problems of large space occupation, reduced effective payload, easy fatigue of connection structure and low efficiency of replacement at sea caused by the need for research vessels to be equipped with multiple sets of heavy metal deployment equipment to adapt to different sizes of detection equipment.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a cylindrical composite material frame for the deployment of detection equipment, comprising several longitudinal ribs evenly distributed along the circumference and several ring frames equally spaced along the length of the longitudinal ribs, the inner arc surfaces of the longitudinal ribs forming a cylindrical support surface, the longitudinal ribs having a sandwich structure inside, the sandwich structure being filled with lightweight foam or buoyancy material, the intersection of the longitudinal ribs and the ring frames having a dovetail-shaped groove, the ring frames being segmented and embedded into the grooves to form a tenon and mortise structure, and both the longitudinal ribs and the ring frames being made of composite materials.

[0005] Furthermore, the longitudinal ribs and the outer surface of the ring frame may or may not be covered with a skin.

[0006] Furthermore, the lightweight foam is made of polyvinyl chloride or polyester, and the buoyancy material is made of a composite of a polymer matrix material and a lightweight pressure-resistant filler.

[0007] Furthermore, the composite material frame has an inner diameter of 50~600mm, an outer diameter of 200~800mm, a total length of 0.5~8m, and a weight of 30~200kg.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner sides of several of the longitudinal ribs form cylindrical surfaces and are connected to the equipment, while the outer sides are connected to the installation equipment.

[0009] Furthermore, the depth of the dovetail groove is equal to the thickness of the ring frame.

[0010] Furthermore, the dovetail-shaped groove has a trapezoidal cross-section, with the upper width of the dovetail-shaped groove being smaller than the lower width.

[0011] Furthermore, the inclination angle of the sidewall of the dovetail groove is the same as the inclination angle of the side of the ring frame.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] 1. This utility model changes the inner diameter of the deployment equipment by using composite material frames of different sizes, allowing a single deployment equipment to accommodate composite material frames of different sizes. This solves the problem of research vessels needing to be equipped with multiple sets of heavy metal deployment equipment, which occupy the ship's carrying space. The longitudinal ribs and ring frames in the composite material frame are made of composite materials, which greatly reduces the weight of the frame while ensuring structural stability and rigidity. The longitudinal ribs and ring frames are precisely fitted together by dovetail tenon and mortise structure. The inclination angle of the side wall of the dovetail groove of the longitudinal rib matches the inclination angle of the side wall of the ring frame to achieve self-locking, avoiding the risk of welding fatigue cracks and bolt loosening. It maintains the integrity of the connection under the alternating pressure of the deep sea, requires no maintenance, and has a long service life.

[0014] 2. The longitudinal rib sandwich structure of this utility model is filled with lightweight foam or deep-sea solid buoyancy material, which makes the weight of a single frame much lower than that of traditional metal structures, reducing the burden on ships. In addition, the lightweight foam or buoyancy material further provides pressure resistance and buoyancy, reducing the pressure load on the frame in deep sea and enhancing the stability of the device.

[0015] 3. The composite material frame of this utility model only needs to be manually embedded into the installation equipment, which solves the problem of time-consuming replacement of existing installation equipment;

[0016] 4. This utility model can further enhance the corrosion resistance of the frame by setting a skin on the surface of the frame, thereby extending the service life of the frame. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this utility model, are used to provide a further understanding of the utility model. The illustrative embodiments of the utility model and their descriptions are used to explain the utility model and do not constitute an undue limitation of the utility model. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the axial side structure of a cylindrical composite material frame with mortise and tenon joints without skin, as described in this utility model.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a front structural diagram of a cylindrical composite material frame with a mortise and tenon structure according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a cylindrical composite material frame with a mortise and tenon structure according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the axonometric structure of a cylindrical composite material frame with a mortise and tenon structure and a skin structure according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a cylindrical composite material frame with a mortise and tenon structure and a skin structure according to the present invention.

[0023] In the picture:

[0024] 1. Longitudinal ribs; 2. Ring frame; 3. Sandwich structure; 4. Skin. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present utility model can be combined with each other, and the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, not all embodiments.

[0026] Detailed Implementation Method 1: See Figure 1-5This embodiment describes a cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment, comprising several longitudinal ribs 1 evenly distributed along the circumference and several ring frames 2 equally spaced along the length of the longitudinal ribs 1. The inner arc surfaces of the longitudinal ribs 1 form a cylindrical support surface. In practical applications, there are at least three longitudinal ribs 1 and at least three ring frames 2, thus forming a composite material frame for enclosing the detection equipment or float. The longitudinal ribs 1 have a sandwich structure 3 inside, which is filled with lightweight foam or buoyancy material to provide buoyancy while achieving weight reduction. The intersection of the longitudinal ribs 1 and the ring frames 2 is provided with a dovetail groove. The ring frames 2 are segmented and embedded into the groove to form an integrated mortise and tenon structure, forming a mortise and tenon connection without metal fasteners, avoiding the weight increase of metal fasteners. The integrated molding enhances the overall strength of the frame. Both the longitudinal ribs 1 and the ring frames 2 are made of composite materials, and the composite material joints have no risk of electrochemical corrosion.

[0027] This utility model provides a cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment, mainly including longitudinal ribs 1 and ring frames 2. The longitudinal ribs 1 and ring frames 2 are connected by mortise and tenon joints to achieve self-locking. The mortise and tenon design ensures that there is no stress concentration at the nodes, improving the overall strength. By replacing structural components of different diameters, one frame can be adapted to multiple specifications of detection equipment or floats, avoiding the need to carry multiple dedicated deployment equipment. The overall weight of the composite material frame made of carbon fiber and epoxy resin is reduced by 40% compared to aluminum alloy deployment equipment.

[0028] The longitudinal ribs 1 and the ring frame 2 are covered with skin 4 or not covered with skin 4. When the frame surface is covered with skin 4, skin 4 and the frame together form a closed load-bearing shell to bear the pressure load inside and outside the frame. When the frame surface is not covered with skin 4, the frame serves as an independent support structure, which facilitates pipeline layout and equipment maintenance.

[0029] The lightweight foam is made of polyvinyl chloride or polyester, and the buoyancy material is made of a composite of a polymer matrix material and a lightweight pressure-resistant filler. The polymer matrix material is epoxy resin, and the lightweight pressure-resistant filler is hollow glass microspheres. The buoyancy material has the characteristics of lower density than water, corrosion resistance, and high compressive strength. The lightweight foam and buoyancy material provide support for the longitudinal rib 1 while providing buoyancy for the frame.

[0030] The composite material frame has an inner diameter of 50~600mm, an outer diameter of 200~800mm, a total length of 0.5~8m, and a weight of 30~200kg. It can cover the specifications of mainstream deep-sea exploration equipment. A single frame can replace multiple traditional supports, which is convenient for manual installation. The maximum size frame of 200kg is still 40% lighter than aluminum alloy.

[0031] Several longitudinal ribs 1 form cylindrical surfaces on their inner sides and are connected to the equipment, while their outer sides are connected to the installation equipment. The cylindrical surfaces formed on the inner sides can accurately wrap the outer surface of the equipment to prevent shaking or displacement. The outer sides are connected to the installation equipment. When in use, the inner diameter of the installation equipment can be changed by selecting frames of different sizes, so that one installation equipment can install multiple equipment.

[0032] The depth of the dovetail groove is equal to the thickness of the ring frame 2, so that the surface of the ring frame 2 contacts the bottom of the groove and the side wall of the groove respectively.

[0033] The cross-section of the dovetail-shaped groove has a trapezoidal structure, and the upper width of the dovetail-shaped groove is smaller than the lower width.

[0034] The inclination angle of the sidewall of the dovetail groove is the same as the inclination angle of the side of the ring frame 2. The matching inclination angle generates radial pressure, thereby suppressing displacement and realizing the self-locking of the ring frame 2 and the longitudinal rib 1.

[0035] A method for molding a cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment includes the following steps:

[0036] The longitudinal rib 1 is formed by molding, and a dovetail-shaped groove is machined between the longitudinal rib 1 and the ring frame 2. The longitudinal rib 1 is fixed on the longitudinal channel of the cylindrical mold. The ring frame 2 is processed at the dovetail-shaped groove by a fiber wet winding process. The ring frame 2 is formed by circumferential winding of carbon fiber or glass fiber. By controlling the winding tension and the change of fiber layer width, the carbon fiber or glass fiber gradually widens at the intersection of the longitudinal rib 1 and fills into the dovetail-shaped groove, and then cures. During the winding process, due to the change in the width of the dovetail-shaped groove, the two sides are wider than the middle under the action of fiber tension. After the carbon fiber or glass fiber is cured, it restricts the circumferential movement. After curing, an integral structure is formed in which the longitudinal rib 1 and the ring frame 2 are connected by mortise and tenon. The slope of the ring frame 2 fits the slope of the groove of the longitudinal rib 1. After curing, the shrinkage generates radial pressure, which inhibits the axial displacement of the ring frame 2. Then, the mold is demolded to obtain a composite material frame. According to the actual application requirements, a skin 4 is formed on the outside of the frame.

[0037] The specific embodiments of this utility model disclosed above are merely illustrative of the present utility model. These specific embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the utility model to only the described embodiments. Many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of this utility model, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize it.

Claims

1. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment, characterized in that: It includes several longitudinal ribs (1) evenly distributed along the circumference and several ring frames (2) evenly spaced along the length of the longitudinal ribs (1). The inner arc surfaces of the longitudinal ribs (1) form a cylindrical support surface. The longitudinal ribs (1) are provided with a sandwich structure (3). The sandwich structure (3) is filled with lightweight foam or buoyancy material. The longitudinal ribs (1) and the ring frames (2) are provided with dovetail grooves at their intersections. The ring frames (2) are segmented and embedded into the grooves to form a tenon and mortise structure. Both the longitudinal ribs (1) and the ring frames (2) are made of composite materials.

2. The cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The longitudinal ribs (1) and the ring frame (2) are covered with skin (4) or not covered with skin (4).

3. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lightweight foam is made of polyvinyl chloride or polyester, and the buoyancy material is made of a composite of a polymer matrix material and a lightweight pressure-resistant filler.

4. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The composite material frame has an inner diameter of 50~600mm, an outer diameter of 200~800mm, a total length of 0.5~8m, and a weight of 30~200kg.

5. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: Several longitudinal ribs (1) form a cylindrical surface on their inner side and are connected to the equipment, while their outer side is connected to the installation equipment.

6. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The depth of the dovetail groove is equal to the thickness of the ring frame (2).

7. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the dovetail-shaped groove has a trapezoidal structure, and the upper width of the dovetail-shaped groove is smaller than the lower width.

8. A cylindrical composite material frame for deploying detection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inclination angle of the sidewall of the dovetail groove is the same as the inclination angle of the side of the ring frame (2).