Underwater Pressure Sensor With Bendable Filtered Pipes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing underwater pressure measurement systems are affected by strong tidal currents and vortexes, leading to inaccurate depth measurements due to the inability to remove low-frequency and high-frequency disturbances.

Innovation Solution

An underwater pressure measurement apparatus with two or more hollow fluid inlet/outlet pipes made of bendable materials, each connected to a pressure sensor and equipped with a filter at one end to remove high-frequency and low-frequency disturbances, allowing for stable pressure measurement by blocking foreign matter and diversifying the structure configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a pressure gauge is attached to the outer surface of a structure to measure underwater pressure, then the measurement system is simple and easy to implement, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to disturbances from tidal currents and vortexes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement system complexityVSAvoidunderwater pressure measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure measurement system is segmented into separate functional components: the pressure sensor is housed inside a protective structure while fluid inlet/outlet pipes extend outside to communicate with the external water environment. This segmentation allows the sensor to be protected from direct disturbance while still measuring external pressure through the fluid communication pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fluid inlet/outlet pipes serve as an intermediary medium between the external water environment and the internal pressure sensor. The pipes transmit pressure information from the external environment to the sensor while isolating the sensor from direct exposure to disturbing forces such as tidal currents and vortexes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If filters are provided at the ends of fluid inlet/outlet pipes to remove high-frequency disturbances, then measurement stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure measurement stabilityVSAvoidapparatus structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Filters made of porous materials are installed at the ends of fluid inlet/outlet pipes to remove high-frequency disturbance components from the water. The porous structure allows pressure transmission while blocking turbulent fluctuations and foreign matter, thereby improving measurement stability with a relatively simple filter component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If the structure interior and exterior are separated to block fluid inflow, then the pressure sensor is protected from foreign matter, but the ability to measure external water pressure directly is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure sensor protectionVSAvoidexternal water pressure measurement capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Fluid inlet/outlet pipes provide a hydraulic communication pathway between the external water environment and the internal pressure sensor. This allows the sensor to measure external water pressure through fluid pressure transmission while the structure maintains separation to protect the sensor from foreign matter and direct environmental exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Enables accurate and stable measurement of underwater pressure by removing disturbances, preventing foreign matter ingress, and allowing for easy filter replacement and configuration versatility.

Implementation Method 1

a filter configured to block inflow of foreign matter and to remove a high-frequency component of disturbances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltering: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the two or more fluid inlet/outlet pipes being made of a bendable material and being disposed outside the structure... a low-frequency component of the disturbances is removed while passing through the fluid inlet/outlet pipes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through flexible conduits:

Implementation Method 3

a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of the fluid and installed inside the structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS10502647B2Apparatus for measuring underwater pressure

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

According to the present disclosure, at least two fluid inlet/outlet pipes, each of which is provided with a filter, are installed outside a structure to be bent and an end of each of the fluid inlet/outlet pipes is connected to a pressure sensor provided on the structure. Thus, since a fluid in the state in which low-frequency and high-frequency components of the disturbances generated outside the structure are removed therefrom acts on the pressure sensor, the underwater pressure sensing apparatus is capable of measuring fluid pressure in a stable state.