Large aperture buoy based on flexible fiber water-filled truss deployment

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of big aperture buoy based on flexible fiber water-filled truss unfolding, belong to the field of ocean engineering equipment and underwater acoustic detection technology, it include: water surface floating subassembly;Floating body ontology;Electronic cabin subassembly;Baffle subassembly;Water filling and draining system.The utility model design compact structure, propose a new structure by water hardening several flexible water-filled tube to do buoy folding device, overall transportation size reduction, hidden wiring avoids winding and simplifies maintenance, without disassembly can high-precision repeatedly set angle, better than traditional exposed fixture.Flexible water-filled tube can reach the equivalent hardness close to steel material after water filling, integrated electronic cabin cooperates the design of water filling and draining system, realizes buoy intelligent control.Integrally injection moulded spherical node synchronously solves the problem of inaccuracy of hydrophone positioning and poor sealing, service life is significantly improved.Keep miniaturization transportation and quick deployment at the same time, form large aperture, high rigidity, node accurate hydrophone array surface under water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of marine engineering equipment and underwater acoustic detection technology, specifically to a large-aperture buoy based on the deployment of a flexible fiber water-filled truss. Background Technology

[0002] Most existing marine acoustic buoys are mounted using rigid trusses or formed into arrays by Kevlar cables. Rigid trusses are bulky to transport and difficult to deploy; while telescopic trusses are foldable, they lack sufficient in-plane stiffness and nodal rigidity when suspending hydrophones after unfolding, leading to deviations in the hydrophone's geometric layout and affecting the accuracy of sound field measurements. How to rapidly obtain a large-aperture array with high flatness and nodal rigidity underwater while maintaining a miniaturized transport scale is currently a technological bottleneck for marine monitoring equipment. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention proposes a large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss, addressing the problems mentioned in the background section regarding existing marine buoy acoustic arrays. These arrays either employ non-foldable rigid trusses, resulting in large transport volumes and cumbersome deployment and retrieval; or they use telescopic trusses, which, while foldable, lack sufficient in-plane and nodal stiffness for the suspended hydrophones after deployment, leading to significant geometrical deviations and affecting the accuracy of sound field measurements. The core technical problem this invention aims to solve is how to maintain miniaturized transport and rapid deployment while simultaneously forming a large-aperture, high-rigidity, and precisely nodally accurate hydrophone array underwater.

[0004] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0005] The floating body itself contains an electronic compartment assembly and a filling and drainage system;

[0006] The flexible fiber water-filled truss includes several main flexible water-filled pipes, which are foldable and uniformly installed around the outer side of the float body, and circumferential flexible connecting pipes connecting the main flexible water-filled pipes. The main flexible water-filled pipes and the circumferential flexible connecting pipes are connected by a spherical water pipe connection node.

[0007] The main flexible water-filling pipe and the circumferential flexible connecting pipe of the flexible fiber water-filling truss form an integral rigid support structure after being filled with water, and form a flexible, foldable, and retractable structure after being drained.

[0008] Using the above technical solution, the flexible fiber water-filled truss has the function of automatically triggering water filling and deployment at a designated depth after entering the water. The integrated electronic cabin coordinated water filling and drainage system controls the water pump to supply water to the truss, driving the hydrophone array to complete its underwater deployment. After the testing mission is completed, the electronic cabin controls the water pump to drain the water from the truss, restoring it to a flexible state and completing the folding and recovery. This design gives the flexible fiber water-filled truss the dual advantages of compact folding and storage above water, significantly reducing storage volume, and rigid underwater deployment, ensuring the structural strength of the array.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes:

[0010] The floating assembly includes an annular float formed by connecting multiple flexible water pipes with a thin film, and a positioning antenna arranged on the top. The entire floating assembly is connected to the top of the float body and is also connected to the filling and draining system through flexible water pipes.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the layout of the annular float with antenna ensures stable water surface attitude while also enabling accurate signal transmission.

[0012] Furthermore, the inner cavity of the spherical water pipe connection node is connected to the inner cavities of the main flexible water filling pipe and the circumferential flexible connecting pipe, respectively.

[0013] Furthermore, the horizontal through hole wall of the spherical water pipe connection node is provided with an annular groove, and an elastic retaining ring is installed in the annular groove for fixing the main flexible water filling pipe when it is inserted.

[0014] Furthermore, the spherical water pipe connection node is connected to the circumferential flexible connection pipe via a quick-connect coupling.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the lifting weight and loading and unloading risks are reduced simultaneously due to the elimination of large-sized metal components; the spherical node is internally connected, and the quick-connect head solves the connection problem between flexible water pipes and simultaneously solves the problems of hydrophone positioning, sealing and wiring.

[0016] Furthermore, a ring-clamp type mounting bracket is provided on the outside of the spherical water pipe connection node for mounting a hydrophone.

[0017] Furthermore, the hydrophone is detachably connected to the ring-clamp mounting bracket, and its signal cable enters the inner cavity of the main flexible water-filling pipe from the tail end of the hydrophone through the hollow shaft of the ring-clamp mounting bracket and the central hole of the spherical water pipe connection node, and finally connects to the electronic cabin assembly.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solutions, the hydrophone can achieve a completely hidden wiring design, avoiding cable exposure failures and supporting rapid underwater replacement; the hydrophone is centrally mounted and directly connected to the signal unit, which can ensure the geometric accuracy of the array.

[0019] Furthermore, the ring-clamp type mounting bracket achieves sealing by engaging with the spherical water pipe connection node through a sealing ring.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solutions, the risk of leakage in the main pipeline is further eliminated, which can better protect the internal structure of the equipment and extend its service life.

[0021] Furthermore, the filling and draining system includes a water pump installed inside the float body, and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the main flexible filling pipe and the water surface floating assembly through a pipe.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, the water pump controls the softening of the pipe body after drainage, and the automatic retraction reduces the complexity and time cost of the recycling operation. The truss can be deployed in a few minutes by relying on the "one-click water injection" of the filling and drainage system, without the need for manual deployment of each section or waiting for airbags to inflate. Its operation efficiency is an order of magnitude higher than that of the traditional solution.

[0023] Furthermore, the array aperture diameter formed by the flexible fiber water-filled truss after full deployment is 100–150 times the diameter of the buoy body.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solutions, a major breakthrough in folding space has been achieved, significantly reducing the space occupied by dock storage and ship decks.

[0025] By adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0026] This utility model features a compact design and proposes a novel buoy folding device structure that uses several flexible water-filled tubes that harden upon filling with water. This reduces the overall transport size, conceals wiring to avoid tangling and simplifies maintenance, and allows for high-precision, repeatable angle setting without disassembly, outperforming traditional exposed clamps. The flexible water-filled tubes achieve near-steel-like hardness after filling with water. The integrated electronic compartment, combined with the filling and draining system, enables intelligent buoy control. The one-piece injection-molded spherical nodes simultaneously solve the problems of inaccurate hydrophone positioning and poor sealing, significantly extending service life. This design achieves both miniaturized transport and rapid deployment while forming a large-aperture, high-rigidity, and precisely node-precise hydrophone array underwater. Attached Figure Description

[0027] 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 these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the fully deployed structure of a deployable large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber water-filled truss, according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the installation and wiring of a hydrophone according to this utility model;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a spherical water pipe connection node and a flexible pipe insertion according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the end of a flexible fiber water-filling pipe and the float body in accordance with this utility model;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a quick-connect connector according to the present invention.

[0033] in:

[0034] 1. Floating assembly; 2. Float body; 201. Thickened insert at pipe end; 202. Watertight gasket; 203. Locking nut; 3. Kevlar cable; 4. Spherical water pipe connection node; 401. Cable; 402. Hydrophone; 403. Ring clamp mounting bracket; 5. Circumferential flexible connecting pipe; 6. Flexible fiber water-filling truss; 601. Main flexible water-filling pipe; 602. Annular sealing gasket; 603. Elastic retaining ring; 7. Quick-connect coupling; 701. Twist-lock outer sleeve; 702. Sealing ring; 703. Limiting retaining ring; 704. Locking block. Detailed Implementation

[0035] 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.

[0036] refer to Figure 1 Several main flexible water-filling pipes 601 are arranged in a star-shaped pattern around the float body 2. To maintain the stability of the array geometry, each pipe is interconnected with a circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5 via a spherical water pipe connection node 4, and a flexible connecting pipe is embedded at the center of the outer side of the spherical water pipe connection node 4. Figure 2 The high-sensitivity hydrophone 402 is shown. The filling and draining system includes a small water pump and inlet / outlet ports located around or at the ends of the float body 2. The small water pump is installed inside the float body 2. Seawater is drawn into the float body 2 by the pump and then enters the main flexible filling pipe 601. The main flexible filling pipe 601 is connected via... Figure 4The locking mechanism shown docks with the float body 2 and, under the action of the filling and draining system, can supply water to the buoy normally, so that the flexible fiber water-filled truss 6 after filling with water reaches the equivalent hardness of steel. The electronic cabin assembly and the surface floating assembly 1 are installed sequentially above the filling and draining system. The annular float formed by multiple flexible water pipes connected by a membrane in the surface floating assembly 1 serves to support the upper electronic cabin and decouple the buoy's attitude movement and underwater array vibration. That is, the operating principle of the surface floating assembly 1 is the same as that of the flexible fiber water-filled truss 6 below; both use water filling to unfold the surface floating assembly 1, and membranes are placed on adjacent flexible water pipes to allow the surface floating assembly 1 to float on the water surface. The electronic cabin assembly is located inside the float body 2 and is sealed. It integrates an attitude sensor, signal processing unit, power amplifier, and wireless communication module, and is electrically connected to the hydrophone array 402 via a through-type connector. A satellite communication antenna, a VHF communication antenna, and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning antenna are arranged on the top of the surface floating assembly 1.

[0037] The filling and draining system features automatic triggering at a designated depth after immersion in water. The float body 2 incorporates an electronic control unit and a pressure-depth sensor, which monitors the external hydrostatic pressure in real time during immersion. When a preset threshold is reached, the controller automatically sends a pump start command to the aforementioned small water pump; if the depth is insufficient or there is abnormal buoyancy, the pump will not start, preventing accidental filling. Seawater enters the coarse filter screen through the inlet at the bottom or side of the buoy, removing shells and floating debris; then, a centrifugal pump pressurizes and delivers the seawater to the main flexible filling pipe 601 and the circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5, ensuring smooth truss deployment. During retrieval, the controller reverses the centrifugal pump to discharge the seawater. The device is equipped with a brushless DC centrifugal pump, whose inlet has a stainless steel filter screen. The entire device casing is made of corrosion-resistant titanium alloy, ensuring long-term reliable operation.

[0038] The flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss 6 is composed of a carbon fiber bidirectional braided tube and a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) pressure-resistant liner. The interface between the liner and the braided layer is plasma-treated to enhance the bonding strength, ensuring that fatigue life requirements are met even after more than 100,000 high-cycle filling and draining cycles. The tube exhibits compliant characteristics in the unloaded winding state; after filling with water, the measured bending stiffness increases to 50452 N·m², a level comparable to that of a 5.5 mm diameter Q235 ordinary structural steel pipe. A disc filter is added to the end of its main inlet pipe to prevent suspended sediment in the seawater from clogging the pipeline.

[0039] The connection between the circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5 and the spherical water pipe connection node 4 is as follows: Figure 5The rotary locking quick connector shown features a spherical water pipe connection node 4, which is an integrally injection-molded sphere with vertically penetrating channels inside: a radial channel connects to the main flexible water filling pipe 601, and a vertical channel connects to the circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5, with the channels converging at the center of the sphere. The inner wall of the spherical water pipe connection node 4 has a positioning groove for assembling an elastic retaining ring 603. When the main flexible water filling pipe 601 is inserted to the designed position, the retaining ring 603 automatically engages with the circumferential groove of the main flexible water filling pipe 601 to complete the locking. It is understood that in other embodiments, the spherical water pipe connection node 4 can be connected to both the main flexible water filling pipe 601 and the circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5 via threaded connections. The top of the spherical water pipe connection node 4 is integrally formed with an adjustable rotary ring clamp mounting bracket 403, and its bottom is sealed by a sealing ring. The cylindrical hydrophone 402 is screwed into the ring clamp mounting bracket 403 via its external thread at the bottom. The signal line of the hydrophone 402 is introduced from the bottom into the hollow shaft of the ring-type mounting bracket 403, enters the inner cavity of the main flexible water-filling pipe 601 through the central hole of the spherical water pipe connection node 4, is laid along the pipe wall and finally merges into the signal processing unit of the float body 2, so as to achieve the concealed laying of the cable 401 throughout the entire process.

[0040] Before deployment, the large-aperture buoy with this flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss structure has its truss pre-folded and wrapped around the buoy body 2. When the buoy sinks to a water depth of approximately 10 meters, a small water pump is activated, injecting water sequentially from the main flexible water-filling pipe 601 to the circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5. The entire pipe network system is filled with water within 2 minutes. Under water pressure, the pipe walls tighten and harden, and the pipe network automatically unfolds to form a rigid acoustic array with a diameter of 20 meters. Simultaneously, elastic retaining rings 603 lock the shoulder of the main flexible water-filling pipe 601, ensuring node rigidity and sealing. The array aperture diameter formed by the fully unfolded flexible fiber truss is 100–150 times the diameter in the folded state, achieving a significant breakthrough in folding space and substantially reducing the space occupied by dock storage and ship decks.

[0041] Specifically, the interface between the horizontal through hole wall of the spherical water pipe connection node 4 and the main flexible water filling pipe 601 is equipped with an annular sealing gasket 602, which can form a seal after being compressed by the pipe opening; the end of the main flexible water filling pipe 601 near the float body 2 has a thickened end insert 201, which is hollow inside and integrally connected with the main flexible water filling pipe 601. The main flexible water filling pipe 601 is connected to the float body 2 through threads and a locking nut 203. The thickened end insert 201 mainly serves to provide quick and accurate positioning; a watertight gasket 202 is provided inside the float body 2 where it connects to the end of the main flexible water filling pipe 601, which can provide a sealing effect; specifically, the spherical water pipe connection node 4 connected to the end of the main flexible water filling pipe 601 has only one connection hole for the main water filling pipe in the horizontal direction, and is connected through... Kevlar cable 3 is connected to the float body 2; the deployment and retraction process of the flexible fiber water-filled truss 6 and the water surface floating component 1 is automatically controlled by the control unit in the electronic cabin component and is linked with the buoy deployment and recovery process; the quick-connect connector 7 has a limit retaining ring 703 on the inner ring and a twist-lock type outer sleeve 701 on the outer ring, and an annular sealing ring 702 on the plug interface end to ensure water pressure sealing at the connection. The plug side is also provided with a locking block 704 corresponding to the limit retaining ring 703. The quick-connect connector 7 is mainly used to quickly connect the circumferential flexible connecting pipe 5 to the spherical water pipe connection node 4. Its structure and principle are common methods in the prior art and will not be described in detail here; the quick-connect connector 7 can support module replacement within 5 minutes and switch between annular or polygonal array topology to adapt to more application scenarios.

[0042] Optional implementation methods: Array topology: In addition to ring topology, X-shaped or star-shaped topology can be formed by changing the connection sequence of flexible tubes (e.g., Figure 1 Alternatively, a programmable variable aperture topology can be used. Material replacement: In deep-sea operations, the TPU liner can be replaced with a PVDF copolymer to improve pressure resistance. Multi-platform collaboration: Multiple buoys can form a large-scale distributed array using ultra-short baseline positioning and synchronization beacons, improving low-frequency detection capabilities.

[0043] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss, characterized in that, include: The floating body (2) contains an electronic compartment assembly and a filling and drainage system; The flexible fiber water-filled truss (6) includes several main flexible water-filled pipes (601), which are foldable and uniformly installed around the outer side of the float body (2), and are connected to the float body (2) by Kevlar wire (3); and a circumferential flexible connecting pipe (5) connecting the main flexible water-filled pipes (601), wherein the main flexible water-filled pipes (601) and the circumferential flexible connecting pipe (5) are connected by a spherical water pipe connecting node (4); The main flexible water-filling pipe (601) and the circumferential flexible connecting pipe (5) of the flexible fiber water-filling truss (6) form an integral rigid support structure after being filled with water, and form a flexible foldable and retractable structure after being drained.

2. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The floating assembly (1) includes an annular float formed by connecting multiple flexible water pipes with a thin film, and a positioning antenna arranged on the upper part. The floating assembly (1) is connected to the float body (2) as a whole, and is connected to the filling and draining system through flexible water pipes.

3. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-insulated truss deployment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner cavity of the spherical water pipe connection node (4) is connected to the inner cavities of the main flexible water filling pipe (601) and the circumferential flexible connection pipe (5), respectively.

4. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-insulated truss deployment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal through hole wall of the spherical water pipe connection node (4) is provided with an annular groove, and an elastic retaining ring (603) is installed in the annular groove. The elastic retaining ring (603) is used to fix the main flexible water filling pipe (601) when it is inserted.

5. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-insulated truss deployment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spherical water pipe connection node (4) is connected to the circumferential flexible connection pipe (5) via a quick-connect coupling (7).

6. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer side of the spherical water pipe connection node (4) is provided with a ring clamp type mounting bracket (403) for mounting a hydrophone (402).

7. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The hydrophone (402) is detachably connected to the ring clamp mounting bracket (403). Its signal cable (401) enters the inner cavity of the main flexible water filling pipe (601) from the tail end of the hydrophone (402) through the hollow shaft of the ring clamp mounting bracket (403) and the center hole of the spherical water pipe connection node (4), and finally connects to the electronic cabin assembly.

8. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-reinforced water-filled truss as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The ring-type mounting bracket (403) achieves sealing by cooperating with the spherical water pipe connection node (4) through a sealing ring.

9. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-insulated truss deployment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling and draining system includes a water pump installed inside the float body (2), and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the main flexible filling pipe (601) and the water surface floating component (1) through a pipe.

10. A large-aperture buoy based on a flexible fiber-insulated truss deployment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The array aperture diameter formed by the flexible fiber water-filled truss (6) after full deployment is 100–150 times the diameter of the floating body (2).

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