EP4334757A1 - Verbindungselement und verbindungssystem zum verbinden eines weiteren schleppantennenmoduls mit einem schleppantennenmodul oder mit einem zugmittel - Google Patents
Verbindungselement und verbindungssystem zum verbinden eines weiteren schleppantennenmoduls mit einem schleppantennenmodul oder mit einem zugmittelInfo
- Publication number
- EP4334757A1 EP4334757A1 EP22725407.5A EP22725407A EP4334757A1 EP 4334757 A1 EP4334757 A1 EP 4334757A1 EP 22725407 A EP22725407 A EP 22725407A EP 4334757 A1 EP4334757 A1 EP 4334757A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- connection
- connecting element
- antenna module
- damping
- designed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/56—Towing or pushing equipment
- B63B21/66—Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V1/00—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
- G01V1/16—Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
- G01V1/20—Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
- G01V1/201—Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers
- G01V1/202—Connectors, e.g. for force, signal or power
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V1/00—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
- G01V1/16—Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
- G01V1/20—Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
- G01V1/201—Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers
- G01V2001/205—Internal damping
Definitions
- Connection element and connection system for connecting another towed antenna module to a towed antenna module or to a
- the invention relates to the damping of vibrations on towed antennas.
- a towed antenna is an arrangement of a large number of waterborne sound transducers that are mechanically connected to one another and arranged one behind the other.
- the hydrophones are typically arranged in a common sleeve or hose.
- the towed antenna is connected to a watercraft, e.g. a ship or a submarine, at least mechanically but typically also to a data connection (e.g. electrically or optically using fiber optic cables) by means of a traction device, e.g. a rope or a belt, so that the watercraft can pull the trailing antenna behind it using the traction mechanism.
- the trailing antenna is connected to the traction means with a connecting element.
- the towed antenna also includes one or more towed antenna modules. If the towed antenna has only one towed antenna module, the terms towed antenna and towed antenna module are equivalent. If the towed antenna has several towed antenna modules, these are also connected to one another with a connecting element, also referred to as a coupling, at least mechanically but typically also with a data connection. For example, by selecting the number of towed antenna modules, the length of the towed antenna can be adapted to the respective application.
- a problem with towed antennas are vibrations that are caused, for example, by turbulence on the connecting elements.
- the waterborne sound transducers pick up the noise caused by the vibrations and generate a corresponding electrical signal. This electrical signal is part of the noise of the hydrophones.
- the greater the noise the more difficult it is for the waterborne sound transducers to detect any reflected waterborne noise (active sonar) or emitted waterborne noise (passive sonar).
- the noise reduces both the range of the towed antenna, i.e. the maximum distance at which noises of a certain volume can be heard, and the bearing accuracy, i.e. the accuracy with which the direction of an incoming waterborne sound signal can be determined.
- the object of the present invention is therefore to create an improved concept for towed antennas, in particular for damping vibrations on towed antennas.
- Exemplary embodiments show a connecting element with a first and a second end area.
- the first end area is designed to establish a connection with a further connecting element and the second end area has an anchorage which is mechanically anchored in a towed antenna module or in a traction device which connects the towed antenna module to a watercraft.
- the anchorage has a damping element that is designed to dampen vibrations of the connecting element.
- the first end region can be designed to produce a mechanical connection to the further connecting element, for example by having one connecting element having a plug and the other connecting element having a socket.
- a fixing element that encloses both connecting elements can be used, for example form fit are produced.
- the connecting element comprises, for example, two half-shells that can be connected to form a sleeve.
- the first end area can establish a data connection with the further connection element.
- the data connection is made, for example, electrically (eg by means of a cable) or optically (eg by means of an optical waveguide).
- the anchoring connects the connecting element, more precisely the second end area of the connecting element, to the towed antenna module or to the traction means. Due to the damping element, this connection is not rigid, but can absorb and dampen vibrations.
- a metal cushion also referred to as metal mesh
- a (plastic or metal) foam or a fine-grained material is used as a damping element.
- a metal foam is advantageously used in order to be able to withstand the large loads that occur.
- the idea is to dampen the vibrations where they often occur, namely on the connecting element. This is done by means of the damping element, through which the connecting element is not rigidly but flexibly connected to the trailing antenna module or the traction means. In this way, the vibrations are dampened directly without being able to propagate via the towed antenna module. The influence of the vibrations on the waterborne sound transducer is thus significantly reduced.
- the anchoring has a mechanically rigid projection, for example a bolt.
- the projection absorbs the tensile forces of the trailing antenna module.
- the projection is surrounded by the damping element in order to dampen the projection in relation to the towed antenna module or the traction mechanism.
- a metal cushion or a (plastic or metal) foam can advantageously be used as the damping element.
- the anchorage has a pin with a bolt which is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the pin, with the damping element being arranged between the pin and the bolt.
- the pin is arranged essentially parallel to the pulling direction.
- the pin can advantageously be hollow on the inside and can then also be referred to as a sleeve.
- a connecting line can be routed through the hollow space in the pin in order to enable a data connection between the connecting element and the further connecting element.
- the term "essentially” refers to the suitability of the bolt to be able to absorb the forces of the towed antenna module or the traction device and the suitability of the pin to be able to establish the connection with the further connection element in the main pulling direction.
- a volume of fine-grained material can advantageously be used as the damping element, in particular sand or plastic balls or 3D printed metal powder (i.e.
- the fine-grained material can have a diameter of less than 10 mm, advantageously less than 6 mm or less than 2 mm.
- the grain size of the fine-grained material should not be too small either, for example larger than 5 ⁇ m (microns).
- liquids, gels or casting resins can also be used.
- damping effect by combining different substances, for example finer and coarser-grained substances (ie smaller and larger grain sizes of the fine-grained material), liquid substances and solids or hard substances and soft substances.
- damping types are friction, wave scattering or compression.
- the choice of damping material allows the damping effect to be adjusted as a function of the damping path that is available.
- the damping path of the damping element is less than 15mm, in particular less than 10mm or less than 5mm.
- the distance between two towed antenna modules must not change at will. It is particularly advantageous for direction formation if all Waterborne sound transducers of a towed antenna are arranged equidistantly and at a small distance from one another. The distance is, for example, in the two-digit centimeter range, for example between 10 cm and 60 cm. However, the distance can also change depending on the wavelengths that are to be detected with the towed sonar. This also applies to the hydrophones, which face each other at a connection between two towed antenna modules.
- connection system for connecting a further towed antenna module to a towed antenna module or to a traction device.
- the connection system comprises the aforementioned connection element and a further connection element.
- the further connecting element has a first and a second end region, the first end region being designed to establish the connection with the first end region of the connecting element and the second end region having an anchorage which is mechanically anchored in the further towed antenna module.
- the further connection element can have the same features as the connection element, with mating parts of the connection elements being correspondingly designed in such a way that they work together.
- one connecting element can have a plug, while the other connecting element has a socket in order to be able to receive the plug.
- the anchoring of the further connecting element can have a damping element which is designed to dampen vibrations of the further connecting element.
- the connecting element and the further connecting element can be designed to establish a data connection.
- the connecting element and the further connecting element can be positively connected to one another by means of a common fixing element. This ensures a secure mechanical connection between the connecting elements.
- a method for producing the connection system by means of additive manufacturing includes additive manufacturing of the first and second end portions and the anchor by layering metal powder and selectively fusing (also referred to as sintering) the metal powder layer by layer to form the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion is formed establish a connection with the further connecting element and wherein the second end region has the anchorage, which is designed to be mechanically anchored in the towed antenna module or in the traction means that connects the towed antenna module to the watercraft.
- the anchoring also has the damping element, which is designed to dampen vibrations of the connecting element.
- the layer-by-layer construction of the walls of the connection system is referred to as selective fusion. The areas where no wall is formed are not fused, leaving the metal powder there.
- a volume is created as part of the anchoring using additive manufacturing.
- the metal powder is removed from the connection system.
- the area within the volume is excluded from this, so that the metal powder remains within the volume to form the damping element. Due to the manufacturing process, it is not possible using additive manufacturing to ensure that the volume is free of metal powder. This is applied in layers over a large area and the metal powder is melted at the points where a wall (or part of the connecting element) is to be created. However, the remaining metal powder remains in powder form.
- another substance is now filled into the volume in order to adjust the damping effect of the damping element. For this purpose, for example, the volume limitation or a wall of the volume is opened at a (small) point and closed again after filling.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a connecting element which is connected to a fixing element on one side and to a trailing antenna module on the other side;
- Fig. 2 a schematic sectional representation of the representation of Fig. 1 along the section plane A-A, wherein Fig. 2a shows an embodiment of the connecting element with a damping element surrounded by a projection and Fig. 2b shows an embodiment of a connecting element with a volume of damping material between a pin and a bolt revealed; Fig. 3: a schematic sectional view of a connection system in the same sectional plane as Fig. 2.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective side view of a connecting element 20.
- the connecting element 20 is mechanically connected to a trailing antenna module 22.
- FIG. instead of the trailing antenna module, a traction device can also be provided with which a Towed antenna can be connected to a watercraft.
- an optional fixing element 24 is shown, which receives the connecting element and is able to produce a form-fitting connection between the connecting element 20 and another connecting element.
- the fixing element is shown in two parts, ie it has, for example, two flab shells which meet at a joint line 26 and are connected to one another, for example screwed. Corresponding screwing points are not disclosed to simplify the illustration.
- the fixing element is explained in more detail with regard to FIG. 3 .
- Fig. 2 shows the representation of Fig. 1 in a sectional view along the plane A-A.
- the plane A-A lies in the butt line (26 in Fig. 1) where the two parts of the fixation element meet.
- the fixing element 24 and the trailing antenna module 22 are shown in the sectional view.
- the individual components of the connecting element 20 are shown in the sectional view.
- Fig. 2 shows in Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b each an embodiment of the connecting element.
- the connecting element 20 thus has a pin 28 .
- the pin 28 forms part of the connecting element 20, which bridges the distance between the towed antenna module 22 or the traction mechanism and a connecting element of another towed antenna module (see FIG. 3).
- Pin 28 can carry a data line. If the pin 28 is hollow in order to pass the data line through, the pin 28 can also be referred to as a fluff.
- the fixing element 20 has a first end area 30a and a second end area 30b.
- the first end region 30a is designed to connect the connecting element 20 to a further connecting element (see FIG. 3).
- the connecting element 20 can have a plug or a socket (not shown) to which a data line is connected in order to enable data to be exchanged with another connecting element.
- the connecting element can have a projection 32 in the first end region. The projection 32 is firmly connected to the pin 30 and serves as a partner for the fixing element 24 in order to create the positive connection.
- the first end region 30a of the connecting element 20 is designed to establish a mechanical connection and/or an electrical connection with a further connecting element.
- An anchor 33 is also arranged in the second end region 30b.
- the anchor 33 comprises a (further) protrusion 34 in a volume.
- the volume is filled with a cushioning material to form the cushioning element 36 .
- the anchor 33 in particular the projection 34, enables the mechanical connection of the connecting element 20 to the trailing antenna module 22 or the traction mechanism. If a fabric is used as the traction device (e.g. in the form of a rope or belt), the fabric can be woven with the projection or the anchorage to create the connection.
- the projection 34 is, for example, a bolt which is inserted through the pin 28 and fixed to the pin 28 .
- the projection 32 in the first end region 30a can be formed in the same way. However, it is also possible to produce the entire connecting element using additive manufacturing technology, for example in one piece.
- FIGS. 2a and 2b now differ with regard to the damping element in the second end region 30b.
- 2a shows that the projection 34 is surrounded by the damping element 36.
- FIG. The damping element 36 thus creates play within which the projection and thus the connecting element can move relative to the towed antenna module 22 or the traction means.
- a metal mesh or any (plastic or metal) foam, for example, is suitable here as a damping element.
- the volume can also be filled with one or any combination of the following substances to form the cushioning element: fine-grained material, liquids, gels or casting resins
- the projection 34 is arranged within a volume 36 filled with a damping material.
- a damping material for example one or any combination of the following: fine-grained material, liquids, gels or casting resins.
- fine-grained material as well as some gels or casting resins can be compressed, so that there is play between the pin 28 and the projection 34 and the material acts as a damping element.
- the volume 36 is located between the projection 34 and the pin 28 .
- the projection 34 is rigidly connected to the towed antenna module 22 or the traction mechanism, but the projection 34 can move relative to the pin 28 within the scope of the game.
- sand or plastic balls, 3D printing metal powder, liquids or cast resins are suitable as damping elements.
- FIG. 3 shows a connection system 38 by way of example using the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 2a.
- the connection system 38 comprises the connection element 20 and a further connection element 20'.
- the features of the further connecting element 20 ′ are the same as those of the connecting element 20 .
- the same reference numbers have been chosen, with the reference numbers of the further connecting element 20' being provided with a floating comma (').
- the functioning of the fixing element 24 can also be seen in FIG. 3 .
- the fixing element 24 engages in the projections 32, 32' on both sides, so that both connecting elements 20, 20' are positively connected to one another.
- the (water) sound transducers disclosed are designed for use under water, in particular in the sea.
- the sound converters are designed to convert waterborne sound into an electrical signal (eg voltage or current) corresponding to the sound pressure, the waterborne sound signal.
- the sound converters are designed to convert an applied electrical voltage into waterborne sound. Accordingly, the sound converters can be used as waterborne sound receivers and/or as waterborne sound transmitters.
- the sound transducers have a piezoelectric material, for example a piezoceramic, as the sensory material.
- the transducers can be used for (active and/or passive) sonar (sound navigation and ranging, dt.: sound navigation and distance determination) are used.
- the transducers are not suitable for medical applications.
- aspects have been described in the context of a device, it is understood that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a method step also constitute a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding device.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Details Of Aerials (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102021204458.1A DE102021204458A1 (de) | 2021-05-04 | 2021-05-04 | Verbindungselement und Verbindungssystem zum Verbinden eines weiteren Schleppantennenmoduls mit einem Schleppantennenmodul oder mit einem Zugmittel |
| PCT/EP2022/060819 WO2022233617A1 (de) | 2021-05-04 | 2022-04-25 | Verbindungselement und verbindungssystem zum verbinden eines weiteren schleppantennenmoduls mit einem schleppantennenmodul oder mit einem zugmittel |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP4334757A1 true EP4334757A1 (de) | 2024-03-13 |
Family
ID=81846605
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP22725407.5A Pending EP4334757A1 (de) | 2021-05-04 | 2022-04-25 | Verbindungselement und verbindungssystem zum verbinden eines weiteren schleppantennenmoduls mit einem schleppantennenmodul oder mit einem zugmittel |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP4334757A1 (de) |
| DE (1) | DE102021204458A1 (de) |
| WO (1) | WO2022233617A1 (de) |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2267172A (en) * | 1938-05-17 | 1941-12-23 | Firestone Tire & Rubber Co | Resilient mounting |
| GB870910A (en) * | 1960-04-06 | 1961-06-21 | Lord Mfg Co | Resilient mounting |
| DE1992297U (de) * | 1968-04-23 | 1968-08-22 | Hermann Kuester | Daempfungselement. |
| US3659256A (en) * | 1970-05-18 | 1972-04-25 | Texaco Inc | Hydrophone streamer cable acoustic decoupler |
| DE2631342A1 (de) * | 1976-07-13 | 1978-01-26 | Cpg Coordinations Planungs Ag | Vorrichtung zum daempfen von zugstoessen in seilen oder dergleichen zugelementen, insbesondere zum festmachen, vertaeuen und schleppen von schiffen und anderen schwimmenden geraeten und anlagen wie kraenen, bohrinseln usw. |
| FR2709560A1 (fr) | 1982-05-26 | 1995-03-10 | Sintra Alcatel Sa | Dispositif antivibration pour le remorquage en immersion d'une base de mesure acoustique sous-marine. |
| US5062085A (en) * | 1984-02-21 | 1991-10-29 | Andrews Jr Daniel E | Vibration isolation module for towed seismic arrays |
| FR2693525B1 (fr) * | 1992-07-07 | 1994-10-07 | Techlam | Dispositif anti-vibratoire pour engin remorqué. |
| DE10047241C1 (de) | 2000-09-23 | 2002-08-08 | Stn Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Unterwasserschleppantenne |
| US10788094B2 (en) * | 2014-10-08 | 2020-09-29 | Sercel, Inc. | Apparatus and method for vibration mitigation with dynamic vibration absorber |
| EP3394644A4 (de) * | 2015-12-21 | 2019-07-17 | Schlumberger Technology B.V. | Seismischer streamer mit quellbarem abstandshalter |
-
2021
- 2021-05-04 DE DE102021204458.1A patent/DE102021204458A1/de active Pending
-
2022
- 2022-04-25 EP EP22725407.5A patent/EP4334757A1/de active Pending
- 2022-04-25 WO PCT/EP2022/060819 patent/WO2022233617A1/de not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2022233617A1 (de) | 2022-11-10 |
| DE102021204458A1 (de) | 2022-11-10 |
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