A floating communication hybrid cable for an underwater robot

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robot, including cable core, outer water-blocking layer, braided layer, torsion layer and sheath;Cable core includes power transmission unit, air pipe unit and signal transmission unit;Braided layer is integrated gradually spiral braided layer, and its weaving angle is periodically continuous change along the axis direction of hybrid cable, and alternating and seamless gradually changing structure is formed in axial direction in rigid tensile section and flexible bending section;The cross section of sheath is eccentric structure, and sheath inside is provided with a crescent closed cavity;At least one spiral flow guide rib strip extending along the axis is integrally formed on the outer surface of sheath.The utility model balances tensile strength and bending flexibility using integrated gradually spiral braided layer, realizes self-floating and anti-winding function by eccentric sheath structure, and significantly reduces fluid resistance by means of surface spiral flow guide rib strip, while ensuring signal stable transmission, significantly improves the operating performance and service life of cable in underwater environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cable technology, and in particular to a floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of marine resource exploration, underwater engineering operations, and national defense security, the application depth and breadth of underwater robots (ROVs) are constantly expanding as an indispensable underwater operation equipment. As the "lifeline" connecting the surface control platform and the underwater robot, the performance of the cable directly determines the reliability, stability, and operational efficiency of the entire operation system.

[0003] Traditional underwater robot cables typically integrate power transmission, signal communication, and functional channels (such as hydraulic and pneumatic channels) into one unit. However, with increasing operating depth and the increasing complexity of the operating environment, traditional hybrid cables are gradually revealing the following technical bottlenecks: First, it's difficult to balance mechanical performance and flexibility. To withstand the high pressure of deep water and the enormous pulling force generated by robot towing, cables need extremely high tensile and compressive strength, typically reinforced with methods such as steel wire braiding armor. However, this undoubtedly increases the cable's stiffness and weight significantly, leading to a larger bending radius and reduced flexibility. During underwater robot operations, cables need to be frequently deployed and retracted, undergoing complex deformations with the robot's movement. Overly rigid cables generate enormous drag resistance and are prone to fatigue damage from repeated bending and twisting, even resulting in kinking and breakage, endangering operational safety.

[0004] Secondly, traditional circular symmetrical cables are prone to tangling and twisting in water. Their unstable motion under the impact of water flow generates significant eddy-induced vibrations, which not only increases the robot's energy consumption but also accelerates the wear and tear of the cables themselves.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, the industry urgently needs a new type of floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots that combines lightweight design, high tensile strength, high flexibility, and low fluid resistance. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide a floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots. This invention employs an integrated gradient spiral braided layer to balance tensile strength and bending flexibility, achieves self-floating and anti-tangling functions through an eccentric sheath structure, and significantly reduces fluid resistance with the help of surface spiral flow-guiding ribs. While ensuring stable signal transmission, it significantly improves the cable's operational performance and service life in underwater environments.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives and effects, this utility model is implemented through the following technical solution: A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots includes, from the inside out, a cable core, an outer water-blocking layer, a braided layer, an anti-torsion layer, and a sheath; the cable core includes a power transmission unit, an air tube unit, and a signal transmission unit; The braided layer is an integrated gradient spiral braided layer, with its braiding angle changing periodically and continuously along the axial direction of the hybrid cable, forming a structure that alternates between rigid tensile sections and flexible bending sections in the axial direction with seamless gradient; the sheath has an eccentric cross-section, with the center of its inner wall not coinciding with the center of its outer wall, and a crescent-shaped closed cavity inside the sheath; the outer surface of the sheath is integrally formed with at least one spiral guide rib extending along the axial direction.

[0008] Furthermore, the power transmission unit includes multiple conductor wire groups, each conductor wire group including a conductor, a conductor water-blocking layer covering the conductor, and an insulating layer covering the conductor water-blocking layer.

[0009] Furthermore, the signal transmission unit includes a fiber core and an optical fiber water-blocking layer covering the fiber core, wherein the fiber core includes multiple optical fibers and fiber paste filling the spaces between the optical fibers.

[0010] Furthermore, the braided layer is made of tin-plated copper wire.

[0011] Furthermore, the anti-torsion layer is woven from high-strength Kevlar yarn.

[0012] Furthermore, there are three spiral guide ribs, and the three spiral guide ribs are evenly distributed along the outer peripheral wall of the sheath. Furthermore, the crescent-shaped enclosed cavity is filled with foaming material or inert gas.

[0013] Furthermore, the cable core is also filled with multiple filler ropes, which are composed of polyester fiber bundles.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model adopts an integrated gradient spiral braided layer design. The cable forms a structure with alternating and seamless gradients of rigid tensile sections and flexible bending sections in the axial direction. The rigid tensile sections ensure that the cable can withstand the huge tensile force of deep-water operations and effectively prevent breakage. The flexible bending sections give the cable good flexibility and resistance to bending fatigue, and can move flexibly with underwater robots.

[0015] The eccentric sheath and its crescent-shaped closed cavity of this invention not only provide stable and reliable buoyancy and reduce the cable's weight and overall density, but its unique asymmetrical structure also enables the cable to automatically maintain a stable posture in water, greatly reducing the risk of tangling and twisting. Combined with the integrally molded spiral guide ribs on the outer surface, it effectively channels the water flow and disrupts the periodicity of vortex shedding, thereby significantly reducing fluid resistance and vortex-induced vibration, reducing the underwater robot's energy consumption, and enhancing operational stability and safety.

[0016] The braided layer in this invention is made of tin-plated copper wire, which allows the layer to not only bear tensile strength but also serve as an electromagnetic shielding layer, effectively blocking internal and external electromagnetic interference. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to this utility model.

[0018] In the diagram, 1: cable core, 11: conductor group, 111: conductor, 112: conductor water-blocking layer, 113: insulation layer, 12: air tube unit, 13: optical fiber unit, 131: fiber core, 1311: optical fiber, 1312: fiber grease, 132: optical fiber water-blocking layer, 14: filler rope; 2: outer water-blocking layer; 3: braided layer; 4: anti-torsion layer; 5: sheath; 51: crescent-shaped closed cavity; 6: spiral flow guiding rib. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0020] like Figure 1 The preferred embodiment of a floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots is shown. The hybrid cable adopts a multi-layer composite structure design, which includes, from the inside out, a cable core 1, an outer water-blocking layer 2, a braided layer 3, an anti-torsion layer 4, and a sheath 5.

[0021] The cable core 1, as the core transmission part, contains three main functional units: the power transmission unit is responsible for transmitting electrical energy, the air tube unit 12 provides an air-blown optical fiber installation channel and also has a pressure balancing function, and the signal transmission unit is used for data transmission and communication.

[0022] Specifically, the braided layer 3 adopts an integrated gradient spiral braided structure, with its braiding angle changing periodically and continuously along the axial direction of the hybrid cable. This design enables the cable to form a seamless and gradual structural feature with alternating rigid tensile sections and flexible bending sections in the axial direction, ensuring both the overall tensile strength of the cable and providing excellent bending performance.

[0023] The sheath 5 employs a unique eccentric structure, where the center of its inner wall is offset from the center of its outer wall, and the sheath 5 contains a crescent-shaped closed cavity 51. This cavity structure not only provides the necessary buoyancy but also effectively prevents the cable from tangling underwater through its asymmetric mass distribution. The crescent-shaped closed cavity 51 can be filled with either foam material or inert gas; both filling materials effectively provide buoyancy while maintaining the structural stability of the cavity. Furthermore, at least one axially extending spiral flow-guiding rib 6 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the sheath 5. These ribs effectively improve the hydrodynamic performance of the cable in water and reduce flow resistance. A preferred embodiment of the spiral flow-guiding rib 6 is to have three ribs, which are evenly and symmetrically distributed along the outer periphery of the sheath 5. This arrangement maximizes the optimization of the cable's fluid performance. The spiral flow-guiding rib 6 and the sheath 5 can be made of the same material (such as high-density polyethylene, polyurethane, or other special elastomers) and are manufactured using an integral molding process.

[0024] The power transmission unit comprises multiple independent conductor groups 11, each of which adopts a multi-layer protection design: including a central conductor 111, a conductor water-blocking layer 112 covering the conductor 111, and an outermost insulating layer 113. This structure ensures the safety and reliability of power transmission.

[0025] The signal transmission unit adopts a dual protection structure of fiber core 131 and optical fiber water-blocking layer 132 covering the fiber core 131. The fiber core 131 contains multiple optical fibers 1311, and the gaps between the optical fibers 1311 are filled with special fiber grease 1312. This design not only ensures the signal transmission quality, but also provides good water-blocking performance.

[0026] Furthermore, the braided layer 3 is made of tin-plated copper wire, which not only ensures the conductivity and electromagnetic shielding performance of the braided layer 3, but also provides good corrosion resistance.

[0027] The anti-torsion layer 4 is woven from high-strength yarn made of Kevlar material. The use of this high-performance material ensures that the cable has excellent anti-torsion performance and mechanical strength.

[0028] The cable core 1 is also filled with multiple filler ropes 14, which are made of polyester fiber bundles and can be used to maintain the roundness and stability of the cable core 1 structure, while enhancing the overall tensile strength of the cable.

[0029] The outer water-blocking layer 2, conductor water-blocking layer 112, and optical fiber water-blocking layer 132 are all formed by wrapping with water-blocking tape. The outer water-blocking layer 2, conductor water-blocking layer 112, and optical fiber water-blocking layer 132 work together to improve the waterproof performance of the optical-electric hybrid cable and extend the service life of the entire optical-electric hybrid cable.

[0030] This utility model adopts an integrated gradient spiral braided layer to balance tensile strength and bending flexibility, achieves self-floating and anti-tangling functions through an eccentric sheath structure, and significantly reduces fluid resistance with the help of surface spiral guide ribs. While ensuring stable signal transmission, it significantly improves the cable's operating performance and service life in underwater environments.

[0031] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention.

[0032] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots, characterized in that, The cable comprises, from the inside out, a cable core, an outer water-blocking layer, a braided layer, an anti-torsion layer, and a sheath; the cable core includes a power transmission unit, an air tube unit, and a signal transmission unit; the braided layer is an integrated gradient spiral braided layer, with its braiding angle changing periodically and continuously along the axial direction of the hybrid cable, forming a structure with alternating rigid tensile sections and flexible bending sections in the axial direction with seamless gradient; the sheath has an eccentric cross-section, with the center of its inner wall not coinciding with the center of its outer wall, and a crescent-shaped closed cavity inside the sheath; the outer surface of the sheath is integrally formed with at least one spiral guide rib extending along the axial direction.

2. The floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power transmission unit includes multiple conductor wire groups, each conductor wire group including a conductor, a conductor water-blocking layer covering the conductor, and an insulating layer covering the conductor water-blocking layer.

3. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal transmission unit includes a fiber core and an optical fiber water-blocking layer covering the fiber core. The fiber core includes multiple optical fibers and fiber paste filling the spaces between the optical fibers.

4. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The braided layer is made of tin-plated copper wire.

5. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The anti-torsion layer is woven from high-strength Kevlar yarn.

6. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of spiral guide ribs is three, and the three spiral guide ribs are evenly distributed along the outer peripheral wall of the sheath.

7. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The crescent-shaped closed cavity is filled with foam material or inert gas.

8. A floating communication hybrid cable for underwater robots according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable core is also filled with multiple filler ropes, which are composed of polyester fiber bundles.

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