EP2858890B1 - Apparatus for observation under water - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for underwater observations, which is buoyant and usable by persons.

There has always been a great interest in being able to observe processes under the water surface. However, this is only possible if the water surface is smooth and free of light reflections. This is only possible in very few cases.

In order to make observations under water, simple cylindrical, conical or pyramid-shaped devices have been proposed, which are partially immersed in the water and by the inside of these facilities a wind, waves and light reflections free area is created, the underwater world observable. Such a device is for example in DE 25 37 436 A proposed.

An advanced form of such devices is in GB 2 391 956 A proposed. An annular structure is closed inside with a transparent bottom, and on the annular structure handles are attached opposite each other. By laying on the water surface and optionally by sub-water pressures, the above listed adverse phenomena can be eliminated and the underwater world can be made observable.

However, the devices described above have a number of disadvantages. Thus, the observer must stand in the water, is thus exposed to this and must be able to withstand at least unpleasant water temperatures and / or currents. However, the observer's stay in the water can also cause fishes to go astray and thus become unobservable.

Although the described facilities can be used from boats or rafts, but then there is a risk that the observers go overboard inadvertently. Non-swimmers therefore can not use this possibility.

Another disadvantage may be that the drives of the observation boats due to their noise fish fish and make desired observation results impossible.

This also applies to all proposals to equip boats accordingly, such as solutions according to the proposals DE 1 506 793 A1 . DE 94 07 816 U1 and DE 198 11 492 A1 ,

Also the well-known glass bottom boats, like that in FR 2 739 828 A1 described, suffer from this effect.

The same applies to an observation boat, as in FR 1 053 045 A and also for inflatable boats usually driven by outboard engines, such as those in US Pat EP 0 755 858 A1 described.

This also applies to observation boats that are semi-divers, as in JP H07 246 989 A described or executed as a submarine.

Inflatable boats with an observation window in the ground area, as in AU 27 927 have insufficient capacity and are not sufficiently stable on the high seas.

For a long time swimming objects are known, which have a transparent viewing window as floating rafts or air mattresses and thus allow a person the possibility of underwater observation. When using this device, a potential user must wear swimwear because it will definitely come in contact with water. For non-swimmers, this possibility is eliminated from the outset.

A major disadvantage of all known observation boats for a larger number of people is their locality. The large-volume rigid boat hulls are not easily implementable from a fixed location to an observation site that has become interesting in the meantime. If anything, it can be considered that it can only be transposed via the water using the observation boat's own drive. Land transports of such observation boats are usually excluded.

Likewise, no long-term observations can be made with fixed observation facilities, as the observation boats must always return to their home port. This precludes habituation effects of marine fauna on the facilities used from the outset.

Furthermore, in all hitherto known observation boats, the risk of accidents and sinking in case of water ingress is not excluded.

In tourism regions, however, there is always a need to make underwater observations accessible to a larger group of people at low cost. Acceptance in terms of resulting costs is all the more likely if expected observation results are actually achieved. This can not be achieved with glass bottom, submersible boats or the solutions described above because of the side effects and / or the resulting costs.

In order to allow the widest possible group of people to observe the underwater world and at the same time make it affordable, there is a need for the provision of facilities for underwater observations that meet the conditions described above, that can be produced cost-effectively and, if possible, According to current needs, can be implemented quickly from one location to another.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for underwater observations, which is buoyant, in their use people do not come into contact with the water, the long-term observations allows that safely calms the water surface, except any shadow cast no further impact on the underwater world unfolds and is also easy and easy to manufacture and transportable.

The object is achieved by a device for underwater observations, which is buoyant and the features of the characterizing part of the protection claim 1 in conjunction with the features of the preamble of this claim corresponds. Secondary and downstream claims describe embodiments of the device according to the invention.

• Unterwasser-Beobachtung - ist die visuelle oder durch technische Hilfsmittel unterstützte Beobachtung des Geschehens unter der Wasseroberfläche, soweit dies ohne oder mit Einsatz von Zusatzbeleuchtung möglich ist.

In the following description, embodiments and claims, the following terms are used with the following meaning:

• Underwater observation - is the visual or technical assisted observation of what is happening under the water surface, as far as possible without or with the use of additional lighting.

Viewer - is a person who is in a facility for underwater observation.

Buoyancy - is a means that makes a device buoyant and sustainable for underwater observations. It can be one or more parts.

Floor - is a closed surface, which is connected in its edge region with a circumferential or a plurality of arranged therein buoyancy body and has at least one transparent portion.

Transparent section - is a transparent, preferably crystal-clear, surface that is integrated into the floor surface or adjoins the floor surface in the edge area.

According to the invention, a device for underwater observations, which is floatable, is produced by connecting at least one buoyant body to a ground at the boundary line of the device, the at least one buoyant body keeping the ground floating on a water surface. Floor and buoyancy bodies are designed so that no water can reach the top of the soil in the normal case and on the ground viewers are protected from moisture.

The floor area is dimensioned so that one or a plurality of viewers find space on it.

The buoyant body is designed to provide at least one buoyancy force, which is indicative of the device's dead weight and the weight of the maximum number of on-ground observers and, optionally, additional equipment and accessories of the underwater observation facilities.

The generally preferred embodiment of the underwater observation device is designed so that the buoyant body is closed annularly and the bottom is tightly connected to the buoyant body.

The buoyant body may be filled with rigid structures and, for example, consist of a foam body.

Likewise, the foam body may be additionally enclosed with a dense sheet.

In a preferred embodiment, the envelope of the foam body can be made openable so that the foam body, which can be segmented in a further preferred embodiment, can be removed. This greatly facilitates the transportation and storage of the device for underwater observations.

Another preferred embodiment of the underwater observation device provides a buoyant body that is gas filled, such as with air. In this case, the internal pressure can preferably be selected to be so high that such a buoyant body braces itself over the surrounding fabric and thus also generates the spatial form of the device for underwater observations.

The generally preferred embodiment of the device for underwater observations provides that the buoyancy bodies are made annular, the outer boundary of the device for underwater observations form and the bottom closes the interior waterproof between the annular buoyancy body.

The outer shape of the buoyant body is preferably annular, but in other embodiments may also have different polygonal contour lines.

The buoyant body may also have a rectangular shape or a triangular shape. It is also possible to carry out a U-shape or a V-shape with a cross-connection on the open side.

It is possible to design the device so that it can only be used by one person.

The size of the buoyant body, the size of the inner floor surface and the number of observers are virtually unlimited.

The connection between the buoyancy body or the envelope of the buoyant body and the ground is tight. Applicable are all known from the prior art connection forms.

One embodiment of this connection provides a watertight but detachable connection in this area. Thus, the floor is removable, making storage, transport or repair much easier.

The floor is a closed, watertight area. It consists at least of an elastic sheet.

A preferred embodiment of the floor provides that this has a larger blank than necessary for a direct connection between the two connection points on the buoyancy body. Thus, the floor can sink in the middle area under the weight of the observers thereon, while it is fixed in the edge area. If the observers are lying on the floor, this results in a slightly rising reclining position, which is perceived as pleasant compared to lying on a level surface.

In the interest of a further increase in comfort mats, mattresses or the like may be present on the floor surface.

To avoid unwanted movements of the soil as a result of currents this may be partially stiffened in another embodiment. This can be done for example by rods, pipes, a cage or the like.

To assist in the formation of such a domed or conical shape, an additional mass may be disposed in the center of the bottom to produce the desired shape without load from the viewer.

The additional mass can be arranged on the underside of the floor. However, their arrangement is particularly preferred on the top of the soil. Thus, this mass does not hinder the flow, and there is additionally a possibility to use the means in question as a container for accessories of the device for underwater observations, for rescue equipment or for objects carried by the observers.

It is also possible to arrange an attachment point for a mast in the center of the ground and also to tension the same with ropes against the buoyant body. The longitudinal force introduced via the ropes into the mast pushes the ground downwards.

The floor can also be designed as a solid construction. This can in turn be made in one piece or segmented.

In any case, at least one transparent section is arranged in the bottom, through which the event can be observed under water.

However, according to the purpose of the underwater observation facility, there are usually a plurality of such transparent sections.

With regard to the embodiment of the transparent sections, it is possible to use all known geometric shapes and all known transparent materials. Restrictions exist only in that appropriate tight connections to the material forming the ground and optionally to the material that surrounds the buoyant body, can be reached.

A preferred form of the arrangement is based on the fact that with an appropriate size of the device for underwater observations, the viewers are quasi star-shaped lying on the ground and are aligned with their feet to the center of the soil. Thus, the transparent portions are located in the periphery of the floor.

Deviations from the preferred arrangement described above are of course possible. For example, in small designs with a polygonal buoyancy body as a parallel arrangement. If necessary, such an embodiment can also be realized as a single arrangement combined with a polygonal buoyancy body.

The arrangements described above can be further equipped in various ways.

Thus, to protect against the weather, but preferably to prevent solar radiation and the associated light reflections, a partial or complete coverage of the interior be executed.

A possible embodiment may be that in the center of the soil in addition a mast for attachment of appropriate sails or tarpaulins can be arranged.

Preferably in the area of the buoyancy body entry and exit aids can be arranged, so that viewers without additional external aids in the device and can get out again.

By means that can be arranged on the outside of the buoyant body, a connection to a self-propelled vessel can be produced. Likewise, these means may be useful for ground anchoring.

Preferably, when using a partially stabilized or a solid floor, it is also possible to allow viewers in place of the lying position a sitting position by additional means, such as benches, chairs, stools or the like.

Fig. 1a/b -

Eine Schnittdarstellung einer Einrichtung für Unterwasser-Beobachtungen in zwei voneinander abweichenden Ausführungsformen, wobei linksseitig eine Ausführungsform mit einem flexiblen Boden, rechtsseitig eine Ausführungsform mit einem teil- oder vollständig stabilen Boden dargestellt ist.

Fig. 2 -

Eine Seitenansicht einer solchen Einrichtung für UnterwasserBeobachtungen mit einem teil- oder vollständig stabilisierten Boden.

Fig. 3 -

Die Draufsicht auf die in Fig. 2 in der Seitenansicht dargestellte Einrichtung für Unterwasser-Beobachtungen.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to some embodiments and drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1a / b -

A sectional view of a device for underwater observations in two different embodiments, on the left side an embodiment with a flexible bottom, right side an embodiment is shown with a partially or fully stable floor.

Fig. 2 -

A side view of such a device for underwater observations with a partially or fully stabilized soil.

Fig. 3 -

The top view on the in Fig. 2 in the side view illustrated device for underwater observations.

A device for underwater observations consists of a buoyancy body 1 and a bottom 2, which is connected in the transition region 3 tightly with the buoyancy body 1 .

The bottom 2 closes the interior 4 towards the water surface 5 in such a way that no water can penetrate into the device for underwater observations. In the bottom 2 transparent sections 6 or 7 are arranged, through which an observation of the events under the water surface 5 is possible.

The bottom 2 can be made elastic, whereby it bends under load. It may also be stabilized by rods, tubes, a cage or the like such that it largely retains a given shape and thereby has a portion 9 rising from the center 8 to the transition area / rim 3 . On the top 10 of the bottom 2 mats 11, ceilings or the like can be arranged to the comfort lying there, in Fig. 1 a and Fig. 1 b unrepresented viewer.

The buoyant body 1 may have a cavity 12 which is gas filled. Preferably, the gas filling can obtain a higher pressure than the atmospheric air pressure, whereby the buoyancy body 1 stabilized in shape. As well the buoyant body can be filled with a foam 13 , whereby the same becomes unsinkable.

In the center 14 of the arrangement, a receptacle 15 for a mast 16 may be provided on the floor 2 , wherein the mast 16 is additionally stabilized by tension cables 17 in the vertical position.

About the bias of the tension cables 17 at the same time a longitudinal force is generated in the mast 16 , which presses the center 14 of the bottom 2 down and thus generates the desired geometric shape of the bottom 2 .

In an embodiment according to Fig. 2 that the in Fig. 1b shown, are located below the buoyant body 1 in the bottom 2 transparent sections 7, can be perceived by the observer 18, the events below the water surface 5 .

The buoyancy body 1 is designed annular. In the plan view according to Fig. 3 It can be seen that the viewers 18 in such an arrangement are distributed in a quasi star-shaped manner on the floor 2 and can view the events under water through the transparent sections 7. In addition, an additional mass 19 is arranged in the center 14 of the arrangement, which can serve for receiving various objects, such as accessories belonging to the device, life-saving appliances, objects brought along, and the like. In addition, the observers 18 can rest with their feet 20 on the outer wall 21 of the additional mass 19 and in this way secure their lying position against accidental slipping on the rising portion 9 of the bottom 2 .

About in the FIGS. 1a to 3 In addition, the device according to the invention for underwater observations may contain further features. For example, elements can be arranged on the buoyancy body 1 , which make it possible to hook in and possibly fix a ladder. Likewise, steps or rungs can be connected directly to the buoyant body 1 and thus open up an entry or exit possibility.

Primarily on the outside 22 of the buoyancy body 1 elements can be arranged, which allow a connection with slings, ropes, ropes or the like. This can be used to connect to a self-propelled vessel that provides the facility for underwater observation. It is also possible to use these additional funds to anchor the facility to on-site underwater observations.

The invention thus has the advantage that it allows the production and use of facilities for underwater observations in a simple and cost-effective manner, is universally applicable and can be packed, transported or stored after use with little effort.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

buoyancy

2

ground

3

Transition area

4

inner space

5

water surface

6

Transparent section

7

Transparent section

8th

center

9

Rising section

10

top

11

mat

12

Cavity in the buoyant body [1]

13

Foam as a filling of the buoyant body [1]

14

Center of the ground [2]

15

Receptacle for mast [16]

16

mast

17

Wire ropes

18

observer

19

Additional mass in the center [14] of the soil [2]

20

Feet of the observer [18]

21

Outer wall of additional mass [19]

22

Outside of the buoyant body [1]

Claims (11)

1. A device for underwater observations, which is buoyant and can be used by a number of persons, consisting of:

   a lifting body (1), which is arranged on the boundary line of the device,

   a floor (2), which seals closed the interior (4) formed by the lifting body (1) on the side facing the water surface (5),

   and transparent sections (6) or (7), which allow an observation of regions underneath the water surface (5),
   characterised in that,

   the lifting body (1) is partially stiffened, or flexible,

   the floor (2) is rigid, partially stiffened, or flexible, and

   runs in a downward sloping manner from the attachment on the lifting body (1) in the direction towards the centre (8) of the device for underwater observations.
2. The device for underwater observations in accordance with patent claim 1,
   characterised in that,
   rigid, buoyant entities are arranged in the interior of the lifting body (1).
3. The device for underwater observations in accordance with patent claim 2,
   characterised in that,
   the entities arranged in the lifting body (1) are encased and can be taken out of the casing.
4. The device for underwater observations in accordance with patent claim 1,
   characterised in that,
   the lifting body (1) is a gas-filled body.
5. The device for underwater observations in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that,
   the transparent sections (6) or (7) are arranged in the edge region of the floor (2), preferably near the inner face of the lifting body (1).
6. The device for underwater observations in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that,
   mats (11) or cushions, or soft elastic inlays in the floor (2) are arranged in the region of the floor (2) extending from the centre (8) in the direction of the transparent sections (6) or (7).
7. The device for underwater observations in accordance with patent claim 6,
   characterised in that,
   a mast (16), and/or ballast, and/or a container, are arranged in the centre (8) of the floor (2).
8. The device for underwater observations in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that,
   the boundary line of the device corresponds to the outer contour of the lifting body (1) and runs in the shape of a ring and/or polygon.
9. The device for underwater observations in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that,
   means for protection from the effects of weather can be assigned to the interior (4).
10. The device for underwater observations in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that,
    climbing aids are arranged on the lifting body (1).
11. The device for underwater observations in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that,
    the device can be fixed in position with the aid of means of attachment arranged on the lifting body (1), and/or can be connected with independently mobile water vehicles.

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