Underwater housing device

Abstract

SOLUTION: An underwater housing device includes a housing 1 and a gas source 3 connected to the housing. The housing has one open end face 2 that faces an underwater surface. A gap 7 is formed between the open end face and the underwater surface. A rotating water flow is formed inside the housing. The gas source supplies air into the housing. The rotating water flow prevents the air from escaping through the gap between the housing and the underwater surface, thus the underwater housing device forms a water-free space on the underwater surface.EFFECT: The device is applicable to underwater wall surfaces at any inclination angle and can effectively establish a water-free space even if there is a gap or no contact between the underwater housing device and an underwater surface, to demonstrate excellent applicability.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of underwater construction and to an underwater housing device. [Background technology]

[0002] When performing detection or construction work on underwater solid surfaces (submerged surfaces such as ship hull surfaces, dam surfaces, etc.), the following problems are encountered:

[0003] (1) When observing a wall in murky water, the murky water weakens the lighting effect of the light on the wall and also weakens the reflected light from the wall, making it impossible for the camera to take a clear photo of the wall.

[0004] (2) When welding underwater (for example, underwater wet welding), the welded part is constantly in contact with water, and the heat conduction of the water causes the weld seam to cool rapidly, resulting in the weld seam becoming embrittled and weaker.

[0005] These problems are all caused by the presence of water near the wall. If we could create a water-free space near the wall, we could solve these problems.

[0006] Patent application CN202310964286.4 discloses an apparatus for creating a water-free space in an underwater environment. The invention is a steel cofferdam for underwater construction. As shown in Figure 1, the technology of this invention involves installing a cofferdam structure underwater and then draining all of the water inside to create a water-free space. Because the pressure in the air space inside the cofferdam is equivalent to atmospheric pressure, a good seal must be maintained between the bottom of the cofferdam structure and the submerged solid surface; otherwise, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cofferdam structure will force water into the cofferdam structure. This can cause the cofferdam structure to become immovable.

[0007] To solve this problem, a housing can be placed underwater and filled with air, as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the housing and the submerged solid surface are in contact with each other. In reality, the contact surfaces of the two cannot be perfectly sealed, so there is inevitably a gap between them. By using air to expel water from the gap between the housing and the submerged solid surface, a water-free space can be created on the submerged solid surface. However, this method has the following problems.

[0008] (1) When the housing moves away from the solid surface (see Figure 3), there is a gap between the housing and the solid surface, and they are in a non-contact state, i.e., there is a very large gap between them. A water layer is formed between the housing and the solid surface, and the thickness of the water layer is approximately equal to the gap between the housing and the solid surface. Thus, it becomes impossible to form a water-free space between the solid surfaces.

[0009] (2) When the solid surface is not horizontal, some air escapes through the gap between the housing and the solid surface due to buoyancy, and water enters the housing, as shown in Figure 4. Even if the housing and the solid surface are in contact with each other, the contact surface between them cannot be an ideal flat surface, and there is still a gap between them. Therefore, the air inside the housing can still escape. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention aims to provide an underwater housing device that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art, and the structure can effectively create a water-free space near the underwater wall, thereby facilitating the construction or observation of the underwater wall. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The technical solutions adopted by the present invention are as follows:

[0012] An underwater housing device includes a housing and a gas source connected to the housing, the housing having one open end surface facing an underwater surface, forming a rotating water flow within the housing, the gas source supplies air into the housing, and the rotating water flow prevents the air from escaping through a gap between the open end surface and the underwater surface, thereby forming a water-free space on the underwater surface.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the gas source further includes a gas amount adjusting mechanism for controlling the flow rate at which the gas source supplies air into the housing and for controlling the volume of air in the housing.

[0014] Furthermore, one or more nozzles are provided within the housing, the nozzles being in contact with the inner wall surface of the housing, and water is sprayed from the nozzles into the inside of the housing and flows along the inner wall surface of the housing, forming a rotating water flow within the housing.

[0015] Furthermore, the gas source is connected to the housing through the nozzle and blows air into the housing through the nozzle.

[0016] Furthermore, an air hole is provided in the housing, and the gas source is connected to the air hole to feed air into the housing through the air hole.

[0017] Furthermore, an annular partition plate is provided inside the housing, and the annular partition plate separates the water-free space from the rotating water flow.

[0018] Furthermore, a blade is provided in the housing, and the blade is rotated by a motor, and the blade rotates the water in the housing, creating a rotating water flow within the housing, and the rotating water flow prevents air from escaping outside through the gap between the open end face and the underwater surface.

[0019] Furthermore, a drainage channel is provided in the housing, and a portion of the water in the housing is discharged to the outside through the drainage channel.

[0020] Furthermore, the device further includes one or more gas chambers that communicate with the air region within the housing, and water within the gas chambers flows into the housing while air enters the gas chambers, forming a water-free space within the gas chambers.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0022] (1) The underwater housing device of the present invention can create a water-free space on a non-horizontal underwater surface even when there is a gap between the underwater housing device of the present invention and the underwater surface.

[0023] (2) Even if the underwater housing device of the present invention is not in contact with the underwater surface, the underwater housing device of the present invention can still create a water-free space on the underwater surface, so that friction and wear are not generated when the underwater housing device moves on the underwater surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a cofferdam in the prior art. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a simple underwater housing. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a housing leaving a submerged solid surface. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a submerged solid surface in an inclined state. [Figure 5] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an underwater housing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the left side is a front cross-sectional view and the right side is a right side cross-sectional view. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a structural schematic diagram in which a drainage channel is provided in a housing. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a gas chamber connection system. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another connection method for the gas chamber. [Figure 9] It is a variation of a gas chamber. [Figure 10]1 is another schematic diagram of the underwater housing device of the present invention, in which the left side is a front cross-sectional view and the right side is a right side cross-sectional view. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another manner in which a gas source injects air. [Figure 12] 10 is a structural schematic diagram of an underwater housing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the left side is a front cross-sectional view and the right side is a right side cross-sectional view. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of an upside-down application of the underwater housing device of the present invention on a submerged solid surface. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] As can be seen from FIG. 4, when a water-free space is formed using only a simple housing, the density of air is lower than that of water, so buoyancy allows air to easily escape from the housing through the gap between the housing and the underwater solid surface (i.e., the underwater surface). This is the root cause of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. Therefore, the present invention proposes a new inventive idea: using the inertial effect of the rotational flow of water to create a pressure gradient, and then using the pressure gradient to prevent the air in the housing from escaping. Based on this inventive idea, the present invention provides an underwater housing device capable of forming a water-free space on the underwater surface. The device includes a housing and a gas source connected to the housing, the housing having an open end facing the underwater surface, with a gap between the open end and the underwater surface, forming a rotational flow of water within the housing, the gas source supplying air into the housing, and the rotational flow of water preventing the air from escaping through the gap, thereby forming a water-free space on the underwater surface.

[0027] Example 1 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure includes a housing 1 and a gas source 3. The housing 1 has an open end 2, which is an open end, and the cross section of the housing is circular. One or more nozzles 5 are provided on the wall of the housing 1, and the nozzles 5 are in contact with the inner wall of the housing. High-pressure water 13 is sprayed from the nozzles 5 into the interior of the housing 1, and the water flows along the circular wall of the housing, thereby forming a rotational flow of water within the housing. The rotational flow of water generates a centrifugal inertia effect, creating a pressure gradient within the water flow, i.e., the outer pressure of the rotating water flow is higher than the inner pressure.

[0028] In this embodiment, there is a gap 7 between the housing 1 and the underwater solid surface 6. When the housing and the solid surface are in contact with each other, the contact surfaces of the two cannot be ideally flat and smooth, so the contact surfaces of the two cannot be perfectly in contact, and a gap is inevitably present. When the housing and the solid surface are not in contact with each other, a large gap is formed between them. Water continues to be sprayed from the nozzle onto the housing and continues to be expelled out through the gap between the housing and the underwater surface.

[0029] An air hole 4 is provided in the housing 1. The air hole 4 is connected to a gas source 3 via a tube. The gas source 3 injects a certain volume of air 15 into the housing through the air hole. The certain volume of air pushes some of the water in the housing into the gap and is discharged to the outside.

[0030] Next, the connection between the housing and the gas source is disconnected, i.e., the air flow rate from the gas source to the housing is zero. Due to the low density of air inside the housing, air cannot pass through the rotating water flow, and therefore, the air cannot enter the gap and escape through the gap. Let's take an air bubble as an example. Assume that an air bubble enters the rotating water flow. The air bubble is subjected to buoyancy, gravity (the bubble's gravity is very small and can be ignored), centrifugal inertia (the air bubble rotates with the water flow, generating centrifugal inertia), and a differential pressure created by the pressure gradient within the rotating water flow (the force exerted on the bubble by the pressure gradient of the rotating water flow). The buoyancy and centrifugal inertia of the air bubble drive the air bubble to escape, but the differential pressure of the rotating water flow prevents the air bubble from escaping. The density of water is much greater than that of air, and if the rotational speed of the water flow is sufficiently fast, the internal differential pressure of the rotating water flow can be much greater than the sum of the bubble's centrifugal inertia and buoyancy. Therefore, the air bubbles move inward due to the action of the differential pressure, meaning that they cannot pass through the rotating water flow to enter the gap 7 between the housing and the submerged solid surface, and of course they cannot escape. As a result, a certain volume of air gathers in the center of the housing 1, forming a water-free space on the submerged solid surface. The size of the water-free space can be adjusted by controlling the air intake volume.

[0031] It has been found that if a water-free space in a housing is maintained for a long period of time, the water-free space gradually shrinks. Analysis and research have revealed the following reasons: 1) air slowly dissolves in water and is expelled with the water flow; and 2) tiny bubbles form at the interface where the air meets the rotating water flow, and these tiny bubbles are expelled with the water flow. This may be because the surface tension between the tiny bubbles and the water flow is not negligible and balances the differential pressure of the rotating water flow. To maintain the size of the water-free space in the housing, a gas source can supply a fixed volume of air into the housing at regular intervals, or the gas source can continuously supply air into the housing at a very small flow rate. Therefore, a gas volume adjustment mechanism is required within the gas source, which can adjust the flow rate of air supplied to the housing by the gas source, thereby controlling the volume of air in the housing. The gas source 3 can be a compressor on the water surface or a gas cylinder. In this embodiment, the use of a gas cylinder is used as an example. To supply gas into the housing, the gas pressure in the gas cylinder must be higher than the pressure inside the housing. An on-off valve is provided at the outlet end of the gas cylinder. When the on-off valve is turned on, air is discharged from the gas cylinder and enters the housing, where it gathers in the center of the housing and forms a water-free space. The on-off valve controls the intake flow rate and intake time, thereby controlling the volume of air in the housing and thereby achieving the size adjustment function of the water-free space.

[0032] The distance between the housing 1 and the submerged solid surface 6 affects the rotational water flow within the housing 1. If the distance is too large, the gap 7 will be too large, making it difficult for the water jet from the nozzle 5 to form a sufficient rotational water flow within the housing. Therefore, the air within the housing, driven by buoyancy and centrifugal inertia, will pass through the rotational water flow and enter the gap, escaping. As a result, a stable water-free space cannot be formed within the housing. In practice, the distance between the housing 1 and the submerged solid surface 6 can be adjusted according to the actual situation through multiple experiments.

[0033] In Figure 6, the housing 1 and the underwater solid surface 6 are in contact. Because real surfaces are never perfectly smooth and flat, there is inevitably a gap 7 between them. However, if this gap is very small, it becomes very difficult to drain the water from the housing, which can lead to several problems, such as an increase in pressure within the housing and a very long time required to create a water-free space. To solve this problem, a drainage channel 16 is provided in the housing 1, which connects the water within the housing to the surrounding environment. The rotating water flow is smoothly discharged through the drainage channel 16 without creating high pressure within the housing. When a gas source injects air into the housing, the water pushed by the air is also smoothly discharged through the drainage channel 16, allowing a water-free space to be quickly created.

[0034] In this embodiment, the air hole 4 is provided at the center of the housing 1. However, since the present invention uses the differential pressure of the rotating water flow to collect air in the central region of the housing, the air hole 4 may be provided at a position other than the center of the housing 1.

[0035] Example 2 In this embodiment, a gas chamber 8 is provided between the housing 1 and the gas source 3, and the gas chamber 8 communicates with the water-free space inside the housing 1 via a communication hole 9. All or part of the water in the gas chamber 8 can flow into the housing 1 via the communication hole 9 and then be discharged into the housing 1 together with the rotating water flow inside the housing 1, and at the same time, the air inside the housing 1 can enter the gas chamber 8 via the communication hole 9, forming a water-free space inside the gas chamber.

[0036] In the example shown in Figure 7, the gas chamber 8 is connected to the inside of the housing 1 via piping and a communication hole. Driven by the water level difference, the water in the gas chamber 8 flows into the housing 1, joins the rotating water flow, and is discharged outside. At the same time, the air in the housing 1 enters the gas chamber 8. As a result, a water-free space is formed in the gas chamber 8.

[0037] FIG. 8 is another schematic diagram of the connection of the gas chamber 8. The gas chamber 8 is provided between the gas source 3 and the housing 1. The gas source 3 communicates with the gas chamber 8 via a communication hole, and the gas chamber 8 communicates with the housing 1 via an air hole 4. The air from the gas source 3 flows through the gas chamber and then enters the housing 1. In this process, the air pushes out the water in the gas chamber, creating a water-free space within the gas chamber.

[0038] Figure 9 is a modification of Figure 8. The diameter of the air hole 4 is increased and a gas chamber 8 is provided in the housing 1. As a result, a very large water-free space is formed by the gas chamber 8 and the gas region in the housing 1. In this way, a relatively large device (e.g., a manipulator, welding tool, etc.) can be installed in this large space to perform construction work (e.g., spray painting, welding, etc.) on a solid surface without water, solving the problems of underwater work in a watery environment that occur in conventional methods (e.g., the embrittlement and lack of strength of the weld seam in underwater wet welding).

[0039] Example 3 This embodiment employs a different method to generate a rotating water flow within the housing 1. As shown in FIG. 10, a blade 11 is provided within the housing 1, and a motor 12 drives the blade 11 to rotate. The water within the housing 1 is driven by the blade 11 to form a rotating water flow. A gas source 3 injects a certain volume of air into the housing 1 through the air hole 4, so that the air gathers in the central region and forms a water-free space. The principle is the same as in the first embodiment, and will not be described again here.

[0040] The distance between the housing 1 and the underwater solid surface 6 affects the rotational flow within the housing 1. If the distance is too large, the gap will be too large. The blades 11 will not be able to effectively drive the water within the housing to rotate it sufficiently, and the air within the housing will pass through the rotating water flow under the influence of buoyancy and centrifugal inertia, enter the gap, and escape. As a result, a stable water-free space cannot be formed within the housing. In practice, the distance between the housing 1 and the underwater solid surface 6 can be adjusted according to the actual situation through multiple experiments.

[0041] In this embodiment, the air vent 4 is located at a position other than the center of the housing 1. Since the present invention uses the differential pressure of the rotating water flow to gather air in the central region of the housing, the location of the air vent 4 in this embodiment does not affect the formation of the water-free space.

[0042] Example 4 As shown in Figure 11, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the gas source 3 and the high-pressure water 13 share a single pipe and are connected to a tangential nozzle 5. The housing 1 is submerged in water. The high-pressure water 13 flows through the pipe and the tangential nozzle to form a rotating water flow within the housing 1. The gas source 3 injects a certain volume of air into the pipe, and the air enters the housing together with the water flow and gathers in the central region of the housing, forming a water-free space.

[0043] Example 5 In Examples 1 and 2, a water jet from a tangential nozzle is used to create a rotating water flow within a housing. One side of the rotating water flow is the inner wall of the housing, and the other side is air. Because air has a very weak effect of restricting the water flow, the water flow spreads toward the air, thereby increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the water flow, further reducing the water flow speed and weakening the centrifugal inertia effect and pressure gradient of the rotating water flow. In addition, the large contact area between the rotating water flow and the air allows the air to dissolve in the water or enter the water as tiny bubbles, gradually carrying away the air in the water-free space. To maintain the volume of the water-free space, a gas source is required to replenish the air within the housing.

[0044] As shown in Figure 12, in this embodiment, an annular partition plate 17 is provided in the housing to separate the rotating water flow 18 from the water-free space air 15. The function of the annular partition plate is as follows.

[0045] (1) The annular partition and the wall of the housing form an annular flow path. The water flows through the annular flow path and is restricted by the wall of the housing and the wall of the annular partition. By designing the radius of the annular partition, it is very easy to change the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the annular flow path and thereby change the speed of the rotating water flow. For example, under conditions where the amount of water being injected is constant, the smaller the annular flow cross-sectional area, the greater the water flow speed within the flow path, and the stronger the inertial effect of the rotating water flow, which can prevent air from escaping in the water-free space.

[0046] (2) The annular partition separates the contact between the rotating water flow and the air in the waterless space, preventing the air from escaping by micro-bubbles or dissolving in water.

[0047] In the examples herein, the underwater solid surface is a vertical wall, i.e., the inclination angle of the underwater solid surface is 90 degrees. The principles of the present invention can be applied to underwater surfaces with any inclination angle, and even in the case of an upside-down underwater surface as shown in Figure 13, the device of the present invention can create a water-free space on the wall.

[0048] As can be seen from the above, the device of the present invention prevents the space within the housing from escaping by creating a rotating water flow within the housing 1. Even if there is an appropriate gap between the housing 1 and the underwater solid surface 6, the present invention can create a rotating water flow within the housing. Therefore, the housing 1 and the underwater solid surface 6 can be in a non-contact state. In this case, the housing 1 can move frictionlessly on the underwater solid surface 6 while creating a water-free space on the underwater wall. This is very useful in practical applications. For example, if a camera is installed inside the housing, the camera captures images of the underwater wall. The underwater housing device is attached to an underwater wall-climbing robot, and the robot moves along the wall. Because the underwater housing device is not in contact with the wall, the robot can move quickly along the wall with the housing and continuously capture images of the wall.

[0049] In the present specification, water and air are used as examples. Water can be any other liquid, and air can be any other gas. The present invention prevents gas from escaping from the housing by rotating the liquid, and this does not change depending on the type of liquid or gas.

[0050] The above embodiments are merely some of the preferred technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all technical solutions obtained by equivalent substitution or equivalent conversion fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Housing 2 Open end face 3. Gas Source 4 Stomata 5 nozzles 6 Underwater solid surface 7. Gap 8 Gas Chambers 9 Communication hole 10 Manipulators and work tools 11 Blades 12 motors 13 High-pressure water 14 Piping 15. Air 16 Drainage channel 17 Circular partition plate 18 Rotating Water Current 19 Cofferdam Structure 20 water.

Claims

1. An underwater housing device comprising: a housing; and a gas source connected to the housing, the housing having one open end surface facing an underwater surface, forming a rotating water flow within the housing; the gas source supplying air into the housing; and the rotating water flow preventing the air from escaping through a gap between the open end surface and the underwater surface, thereby forming a water-free space on the underwater surface.

2. 2. The underwater housing device of claim 1, wherein the gas source includes a gas volume adjustment mechanism for controlling the flow rate at which the gas source supplies air into the housing and for controlling the volume of air within the housing.

3. 2. The underwater housing device of claim 1, wherein one or more nozzles are provided within the housing, the nozzles contacting the inner wall surface of the housing, and water is sprayed from the nozzles into the inside of the housing and flows along the inner wall surface of the housing, forming a rotating water flow within the housing.

4. 4. The underwater housing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gas source is connected to the housing through the nozzle and delivers air into the housing through the nozzle.

5. 2. The underwater housing device of claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with an air vent, and the gas source is connected to the air vent for supplying air into the housing through the air vent.

6. 4. The underwater housing device according to claim 3, wherein an annular partition plate is provided inside the housing, and the annular partition plate separates a waterless space from a rotating water flow.

7. 2. The underwater housing device according to claim 1, wherein a blade is provided in the housing, the blade is driven to rotate by a motor, the blade drives the water in the housing to rotate, and a rotating water flow is formed in the housing, and the rotating water flow prevents air from escaping outside through a gap between the open end surface and the underwater surface.

8. 8. The underwater housing device according to claim 1, wherein a drainage passage is provided in the housing, and a portion of the water in the housing is discharged to the outside through the drainage passage.

9. 2. The underwater housing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more gas chambers, the gas chambers communicating with an air region within the housing, wherein water within the gas chambers flows into the housing while air enters the gas chambers, forming a water-free space within the gas chambers.

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