Underwater Lighting Device Pressure Control and Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional underwater lighting devices and electronic devices are expensive due to the need for high water-tightness, making them unsuitable for large-scale installations, and they require a transparent cover for light passage, which complicates ensuring physical strength and water-tightness.
Innovation Solution
An underwater lighting device with a gas-tight case and a gas-supply system that maintains internal pressure higher than water pressure, using a gas-sending tube connected to a land-based system for power and signal transmission, and incorporating a pressure sensor and pump for leak detection and alarm generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container is made highly water-tight with a transparent cover to allow light passage, then water protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a waterproof body and a separate transparent cover (window portion). The cover is attached to the waterproof body through a fastening mechanism, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly of the two parts. This segmentation enables the use of simpler, less expensive materials and manufacturing processes for each component while maintaining overall water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A fastening mechanism acts as an intermediary between the waterproof body and the transparent cover. This intermediary component enables reliable water-tight sealing through mechanical fastening rather than requiring complex integrated sealing structures, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining water protection reliability.
2Reliability
If the transparent cover and metallic casing are joined to ensure high water-tightness, then water protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a waterproof body and a separate transparent cover (window portion). The cover is attached to the waterproof body through a fastening mechanism, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly of the two parts. This segmentation enables the use of simpler, less expensive materials and manufacturing processes for each component while maintaining overall water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A fastening mechanism acts as an intermediary between the waterproof body and the transparent cover. This intermediary enables reliable water-tight sealing through mechanical fastening rather than requiring complex integrated sealing structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining water-tightness.
3Reliability
If gas is supplied to maintain internal pressure higher than water pressure, then water ingress prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A gas bag serves as an intermediary element inside the container that maintains internal pressure. The gas bag can be inflated through a simple tube connection to a gas source, creating a flexible pressure maintenance system that is simpler than rigid pressure vessels or complex active pressure control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal pressure of the container is changed and maintained at a level higher than the external water pressure. This parameter change (pressure differential) prevents water ingress by creating an outward pressure gradient that counteracts the water pressure, simplifying the waterproofing requirement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for durable, cost-effective long-term use of underwater devices by preventing water ingress even if the gas-tight state is broken, ensuring the device's components remain undamaged, and provides early detection of leaks through alarm systems.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-sending tube to be connected to an opening provided in the gas-tight case; and a land-based gas-supply system for sending gas into the gas-sending tube
Implementation Method 2
it is preferable to provide the gas-supply system with a pressure sensor, a controller and a pump
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an underwater lighting device and underwater electronic device which are comparatively inexpensive yet durable enough for long-term use. An underwater lighting unit 10, which has an internally provided light source 11 and a gas-tight case 12 with a window 13 for allowing the passage of light from the light source 11, is connected to a land-based unit 30 by a gas-sending tube 40. Air is sent from the land-based unit 30 to the underwater lighting unit 10 to maintain the pressure inside the underwater lighting unit 10 at a value slightly higher than the water pressure at the location. A power line for supplying power to the underwater lighting unit 10 and a signal line for controlling the emission of their light are installed in the gas-sending tube 40. Even if the gas-tight state of one underwater lighting unit 10 is broken, water cannot enter the underwater lighting unit 10. Furthermore, the thereby generated bubbles help users locate the underwater lighting unit 10 in which the gas-tight state has been broken. If a plurality of underwater lighting units 10 are provided, they should preferably be connected in the form of a loop or matrix to the land-based unit 30.