EP4589987A1

EP4589987A1 - Sound recording device and underwater probe

Info

Publication number: EP4589987A1
Application number: EP23911850.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hajime Naganuma; Kyohei Takami; Mitsuru Shimazu; Yuya Yamamoto; Tatsuo Fukuhara; Shunichi Kawasaki; Yosuke Onishi; Masayuki Nagao; Atsushi Suzuki; Naoki Saito; Tetsuya Miwa; Kazumasa Ikeda; Hiroshi Takahashi; Tomonari Akamatsu
Original assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology AIST; Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology; Okamoto Glass Co Ltd; Kanso Technos Co Ltd
Current assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology AIST; Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology; Okamoto Glass Co Ltd; Kanso Technos Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-26
Filing date: 2023-12-19
Publication date: 2025-07-23
Also published as: JPWO2024143070A1; WO2024143070A1

Abstract

According to the present invention, a sound recording device (10A) includes a hollow spherical container (60), a power supply device (30) arranged inside the container (60), a sound recording unit (14) including a storage device (20) and arranged inside the container (60), and a sound sensor fixed to an inner surface of the container (60) and/or a sound sensor (40) arranged outside the container. The sound sensor (40) is electrically connected to the sound recording unit (14) via a cable (51).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sound recording device and an underwater probe.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-208460, filed December 26, 2022 , the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

In environmental impact assessment and environmental monitoring related to the development of deep-sea mineral resources such as manganese nodules and rare earth mud, it is important and essential to observe and record underwater noise affecting the growth of aquatic organisms such as marine mammals and fish.
In addition to "underwater noise" serving as an impact evaluation target according to construction and development, underwater sounds serving as a target of observation and recording can include "background noise" that is the baseline in environmental impact assessment and "underwater biological sounds" generated by organisms to be protected or organisms to be protected or considered. "Underwater biological sound" is used to confirm whether or not there are any organisms to be protected or any organisms to be protected or considered.
In addition, "background noise" refers to underwater sound waves normally present, excluding specific underwater sounds to be evaluated in an observation target sea area. "Background noise" refers to underwater sounds other than an evaluation target among sound waves caused by changes in weather and sea conditions, sounds from watercraft sailing in the vicinity, sounds from organisms living in the sea area, and the like. Construction sounds caused by temporary underwater construction, vibration sounds from underwater microphones and the like, and electrical noise from sound recording devices do not correspond to "background noise."
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a connected underwater probe in which at least one battery-powered underwater probe consisting of three pressure-resistant hollow glass spheres housing a photographing device, an illumination device, a recording device, an acoustic communication device, and a control device for controlling these devices and at least one battery device having approximately the same shape and structure as the above-described underwater probe are connected by a connector.

Citation List

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 6933840

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

On the other hand, observation and recording during a period from several months to about a year are required to observe a background noise level in deep-sea areas of the open ocean and marine mammals that appear in the areas. On the other hand, in deep-sea exploration, it is required that even intermittent records can be recorded for as long as possible in a single exploration activity. For example, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) requires monitoring of underwater sound records for a long term of one year.
However, sound recording devices capable of recording underwater sounds are commercially available, but they are limited to observation and recording for a maximum of about 10 hours. Moreover, external power supplies are commercially available in shallow sea areas or at a depth of 3,500 m. Using these external power supplies, underwater sound recording for about 30 to 90 days is possible. However, because external power supplies that enable underwater sound recording for about 30 to 90 days are large in size and heavy in weight, a large-scale mooring facility is required. It is difficult to observe underwater sounds near the deep-sea floor at a depth of 5,500 to 6,000 m where manganese nodules and rare earth mud are present because a larger-scale mooring facility is necessary and mooring itself is not easy. At present, there are no underwater sound recording devices or technologies that can handle long-term sound recording for 30 days or more even in deep-sea areas. As a result, it is necessary to develop a power supply and data memory necessary for long-term observation and recording, and a platform to install and recover them on the deep-sea floor.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems and an objective of the present invention is to provide a sound recording device and an underwater probe capable of implementing long-term sound recording even in deep-sea areas.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following aspects.

[1] A sound recording device including: a hollow spherical container; a power supply device arranged inside the container; a sound recording unit including a storage device and arranged inside the container; and a sound sensor fixed to an inner surface of the container and/or a sound sensor arranged outside the container, wherein the sound sensor is electrically connected to the sound recording unit via a cable.
[2] The sound recording device according to [1], wherein, when the sound sensor is provided inside the container, the sound sensor is fixed to the inner surface of the container by adhesive.
[3] The sound recording device according to [1], wherein, when the sound sensor is provided outside the container, a sensor cable hole for allowing a cable connecting the sound sensor and the sound recording unit to pass therethrough is formed in the container.
[4] The sound recording device according to [2], wherein the container has a spherical shape with a first hemispherical part and a second hemispherical part, the sound sensor is provided inside the first hemispherical part of the container, and an exhaust valve for exhausting a gas inside the container outside the container is provided on the second hemispherical part of the container.
[5] The sound recording device according to [4], wherein the sound sensor is provided at a position farthest from an opening of the first hemispherical part.
[6] The sound recording device according to any one of [2], [4], and [5], wherein the adhesive is resin with an acoustic impedance of 1.5×10⁵ to 3.0×10⁶ g/cm²sec calculated by p×V from the density ρ of a medium and the sound speed V in the medium at a temperature of 15 to 25°C and atmospheric pressure in a range of 1013.25±50 hPa.
[7] The sound recording device according to any one of [1] to [6], including a plurality of containers including a first container and a second container, wherein cable holes for allowing an inter-container connection cable for connecting an electrical device in the first container with an electrical device in the second container to pass therethrough are formed in the first container and the second container.
[8] The sound recording device according to any one of [1] to [7], further including a mounting base provided inside the container, wherein the mounting base includes one or more container-fixed parts fixed to the container; a storage device installation part having an installation surface on which the storage device is provided; and a power supply device installation part having an installation surface on which the power supply device is provided.
[9] The sound recording device according to [8], wherein the mounting base includes the container-fixed part formed in a disk or ring shape; and a support member fixed to the container-fixed part and configured to support the storage device installation part at a position away from the container-fixed part in a central axial direction of circular outer circumference of the container-fixed part.
[10] The sound recording device according to [8] or [9], wherein the mounting base is fixed to only the second hemispherical part.
[11] The sound recording device according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the container is made of glass.
[12] An underwater probe including the sound recording device according to any one of [1] to [11].

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sound recording device and an underwater probe capable of implementing long-term observation and recording of underwater sounds even in deep-sea areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1] A schematic diagram showing a sound recording device of a first embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] A schematic diagram showing a sound recording device of a second embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 3] A diagram showing a specific example of a sensing unit of the sound recording device according to the first embodiment and an oblique perspective view showing parts other than a container seen through the container.
[FIG. 4] A plan view of the sensing unit of FIG. 3 with a first hemispherical part omitted.
[FIG. 5] A perspective front view of the sensing unit of FIG. 3 seen through the container.
[FIG. 6] A perspective side view of the sensing unit of FIG. 3 seen through the container.
[FIG. 7] A diagram showing a specific example of a subunit of the sound recording device of the first embodiment and an oblique perspective view of the subunit seen through the container.
[FIG. 8] A plan view of the subunit of FIG. 7 with the first hemispherical part omitted.
[FIG. 9] A perspective front view of the subunit of FIG. 7 seen through the container.
[FIG. 10] A perspective side view of the subunit of FIG. 7 seen through the container.
[FIG. 11] An explanatory schematic view of a sound recording device of a third embodiment.
[FIG. 12] An explanatory schematic view of a sound recording device of a fourth embodiment.
[FIG. 13] A diagram showing the sound recording device of the third embodiment and an oblique perspective view showing an internal structure seen through the container.
[FIG. 14] A view showing an internal structure of the sound recording device of the third embodiment and a perspective side view showing an internal structure seen through the container.
[FIG. 15] A view showing the sound recording device of the third embodiment and a perspective front view showing an internal structure seen through the container.
[FIG. 16] An explanatory schematic diagram of the fixing of a plate-shaped sound sensor to an inner surface of the container of the sound recording device.
[FIG. 17] A perspective view showing an example of a square plate-shaped sound sensor.
[FIG. 18] An explanatory diagram of formation of a curved surface (a spherical surface) matching an inner surface of the container of the sound recording device by cutting one side of the square plate-shaped sound sensor.
[FIG. 19] An example of a method for attaching a sound sensor to an inner surface of the sound recording device's container and a schematic diagram showing a case where a sound sensor (a sensor element) on an end of a lead wire exposed on an end of a sensor cable is directly attached to the inner surface of the container of the sound recording device.
[FIG. 20] A perspective view showing an underwater probe of a first example.
[FIG. 21] A cross-sectional plan view showing a probe body of the underwater probe of FIG. 20.
[FIG. 22] A diagram showing an underwater probe of a second example.
[FIG. 23] A diagram showing an underwater probe of a third example.
[FIG. 24] A photograph of an exterior of an example of a sound recording device unit configured using a sound recording device of a third embodiment.
[FIG. 25] A perspective view showing a state in which a container of the sound recording device is held on a container support plate using a holder.
[FIG. 26] An explanatory diagram of a holding structure in which the sound recording device is held on a container holding plate using the holder.
[FIG. 27] A front view showing the holder.
[FIG. 28] A schematic diagram showing an example of a sound recording unit of a sound recording device of an embodiment according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, it is easy for a person skilled in the art to understand that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following description and that the embodiments and details can be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are not interpreted as being limited to the description content of the embodiments shown below.
A plurality of embodiments shown below can be combined as appropriate. Moreover, when a plurality of configuration examples (including an example of a manufacturing method, an example of an operation method, and the like) are shown in one embodiment, the configuration examples can be appropriately combined with each other and can be appropriately combined with one or more configuration examples described in other embodiments.
In the drawings, the same elements, elements having similar functions, elements made of the same material, elements formed at the same time, or the like may be denoted by the same reference signs and redundant description thereof may be omitted.
Although there are locations in description using "~ (to)" as a descriptive expression indicating a numerical range from a lower limit value to an upper limit value in the present specification, the numerical range in each of these description locations is a numerical range specified as a range equal to or greater than a lower limit value and equal to or less than an upper limit value, including the lower limit value itself and the upper limit value itself.
A sound recording device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a spherical and hollow container, a power supply device arranged inside the container, a sound recording unit including a storage device and arranged inside the container, and a sound sensor arranged inside and/or outside the container and electrically connected to the sound recording unit via a cable.
The container can preferably employ a configuration having a first hemispherical part and a second hemispherical part and having one or more exhaust valves. The container has a half-split structure assembled into a sphere by integrating the first hemispherical part and the second hemispherical part. Exhaust valves are provided on one or both of the first and second hemispherical parts.

First, a sound recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sound recording device according to an embodiment (a first embodiment) of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a sound recording device 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a sound recording unit 14 including a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) containers 60, a sound sensor 40, a power supply device 30 ("battery" in FIG. 1), and a storage device 20 (see FIGS. 5, 6, 28, and the like). The power supply device 30 is housed in each of the plurality of (two in FIG. 1) containers 60 of the sound recording device 10A. The sound recording unit 14 is housed in only one of the plurality of containers 60 of the sound recording device 10A (a first container 60A to be described below).
As shown in FIG. 28, the sound recording device 10A according to the first embodiment has a sound recording unit 14 including a storage device 20. The sound recording unit 14 has a preamplifier 11, a filter 12, an analog-to-digital (AD) converter 13, and a storage device 20. The sound recording unit 14 is housed entirely in one container 60.
Details of the sound recording unit 14 will be described below.
The sound sensor 40 is an electronic device that converts a change in sound pressure acting on the sound sensor 40 into an electric signal without a power supply and outputs the electrical signal. The sound sensor 40 (the electronic device) is configured to house a piezoelectric element (an electronic part or a sensor element) that converts a change in sound pressure into an electric signal without a power supply and outputs the electrical signal in an exterior member.
The sound sensor 40 of the sound recording device 10A shown in FIG. 1 is located outside the container 60 and located underwater outside the container 60 when an underwater probe into which the sound recording device 10A is built is dropped into water as will be described below. The exterior member of this sound sensor 40 ensures waterproofing of the connection between the sensor element and the electrical cable (a sensor cable 51 to be described below) extended from the container 60 to the outside of the container 60, and has pressure resistance for stably maintaining waterproofing even under high pressure.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sound recording unit 14 is electrically connected to the sound sensor 40 via the sensor cable 51 and stores the electrical signal output by the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20. The sound recording device 10A records a sound acting on the sound sensor 40 by storing the electrical signal output by the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20 of the sound recording unit 14. The sound recording device 10A records the sound acting on the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20 by storing the electrical signal output by the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20 of the sound recording unit 14.
In the present specification, electronic devices such as the sound sensor 40 and storage device 20, electronic parts such as the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13, and an electrical device such as the power supply device 30 are also referred to as electronic and electrical devices.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sound recording device 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention also has a cable 50 and a mounting base 80.
There are two types of cables 50, i.e., the sensor cable 51 that makes a connection between the sound recording unit 14 and the sound sensor 40 and an electrical cable that connects electronic and electrical devices other than the sound sensor 40.
As electrical cables, there are intra-container connection cables 52 that make connections between electronic and electrical devices in the same container 60 and an inter-container connection cable 53 that makes a connection between electronic and electrical devices housed in different containers 60.
In addition to the electrical cables, the electrical connection between electronic and electrical devices other than the sound sensor 40 may be made using, for example, wiring of a circuit board, a plate-shaped or rod-shaped conductive metallic member made of a conductive metal such as stainless steel, or the like.
In the sound recording device 10A exemplified in FIG. 1, there are only one sound sensor 40 and only one sensor cable 51.
As shown in FIG. 28, one end of the sensor cable 51 is connected to the sound recording unit 14 (specifically, the preamplifier 11 of the sound recording unit 14), and the other end of the sensor cable 51 is connected to the sound sensor 40. The sound sensor 40 is electrically connected to the storage device 20 via the sensor cable 51 and electronic and electrical devices other than the storage device 20 of the sound recording unit 14.
The sound recording unit 14 stores the electrical signal output from the sound sensor 40 in correspondence with a change in sound pressure acting on the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20. The sound recording device 10A can implement underwater sound recording by storing the electrical signal output from the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20.
Hereinafter, the container 60 housing the storage device 20 connected to the sensor cable 51 between the two containers 60 of the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment exemplified in FIG. 1 will be referred to as a first container 60A and the other will be referred to as a second container 60B.
In the sound recording device 10A exemplified in FIG. 1, the inter-container connection cable 53 connects an electrical device such as the power supply device 30 within the first container 60A to an electrical device such as the power supply device 30 within the second container 60B.
In FIG. 1, the mounting base 80 is provided within the container 60 and fixed to the container 60. The mounting base 80 functions as a supporting body for supporting electronic and electrical devices provided in the container 60 such as the storage device 20 and the power supply device 30.
Hereinafter, the mounting base 80 to which electronic and electrical device such as the storage device 20 and the power supply device 30 are attached is referred to as a mounting base with electronic and electrical devices, and a structure in which a mounting base with electronic and electrical devices is housed in the container 60 is referred to as a device unit. The sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment has a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) devices units.
Hereinafter, a device unit in which the storage device 20 connected to the sensor cable 51 is housed in the container 60 among a plurality of devices units of the sound recording device 10A is referred to as a sensing unit 110 and device units other than the sensing unit 110 are referred to as subunits 120.
The sound recording device 10A can employ a configuration having one sensing unit 110 and one or more subunits 120 (one subunit in FIG. 1). The sound recording device 10A can also employ a configuration having one sensing unit 110 and a plurality of subunits 120.
In addition, a state in which the plurality of device units constituting the sound recording device 10A are connected between electrical devices in containers 60 different from each other via the inter-container connection cable 53 is indicated.

FIG. 20 shows a first example of an underwater probe into which the sound recording device 10A is built.
In FIG. 20, an upper side of an underwater probe 100A may be referred to as "upper" and a lower side thereof may be referred to as "lower."
As shown in FIG. 20, the underwater probe 100A has a probe body 130 having a container support plate 131 to which the container 60 of the sound recording device 10A is attached, a communication unit 142A connected to an upper end of the probe body 130 via a rope 141, a weight 144 connected to a lower end of the probe body 130 via a rope 143, and a ladder-shaped feeding frame 145 pivotally attached to the lower end of the probe body 130.
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the probe body 130 has upper and lower fixing frames 132 and 133 arranged apart from each other, and three elongated container support plates 131 whose both ends in a longitudinal direction are fixed by the upper and lower fixing frames 132 and 133. The three container support plates 131 are fixed by the upper and lower fixing frames 132 and 133 to constitute a triangular tubular body extending in the longitudinal direction of the container support plate 131.
As shown in FIG. 20, container insertion window holes 134 into which the containers 60 of the sound recording device 10A can be inserted are formed at three locations of the container support plates 131 in the longitudinal direction. The container insertion window holes 134 are formed in a circular shape. Nine container insertion window holes 134 of the container support plates 131 are secured throughout the probe body 130. The two containers 60 (a first container 60A and a second container 60B) of the sound recording device 10A are inserted into the container insertion window holes 134 of the container support plate 131 of the probe body 130 and are held on the container support plate 131 by a holder 137 (not shown) (see FIG. 21 and FIGS. 25 to 27). The sound sensor 40 (not shown in FIGS. 20 and 21) of the sound recording device 10A is attached to the probe body 130.
When the underwater probe 100A of FIG. 20 is immersed in water, it can record underwater sounds using the sound recording device 10A having the sound sensor 40, and can observe and record underwater noise and the like.
In addition, the number of container insertion window holes 134 formed in the container support plate 131 is not limited to three, and may be one, two, or four or more.
The number of container insertion window holes 134 formed in the entire probe body 130 may be different from nine.
In the present specification, a spherical container with a half-split structure containing devices is called a device-containing sphere. A cable passing through the spherical container from the device inside the spherical container and extending outside the spherical container and the like may be provided in the device-containing sphere. The device-containing sphere in the device unit of the sound recording device of the embodiment of the present invention includes the container 60 and contained objects (devices and the like) within the container 60. A structure in which the device is housed within the container 60 in the sound recording device of the embodiment according to the present invention corresponds to the device-containing sphere. The container 60 and the contained objects (the devices and the like) within the container 60 in the sensing unit 110 and the subunit 120 of the sound recording device 10A of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are an example of the device-containing sphere.
Each of the two containers 60 (the first container 60A and the second container 60B) of the sound recording device 10A corresponds to a spherical container of the device-containing sphere. The spherical container of the device-containing sphere is a glass container with a half-split structure mainly including a pair of hemispherical parts (a first hemispherical part and a second hemispherical part). The spherical container of the device-containing sphere is the container 60 applicable to the sound recording device of the embodiment according to the present invention. More preferably, the container 60 of the device-containing sphere has an exhaust valve in one or both of the pair of hemispherical parts to reduce the pressure inside the container by exhausting the gas inside the container and to integrate the pair of hemispherical parts. The exhaust valve can be a check valve similar to the exhaust valve of the container 60 of the sound recording device 10A to be described below.
In FIG. 20, the device-containing sphere is denoted by reference sign 135.
In addition to the (two) container insertion window holes 134 into which the two containers 60 (the first container 60A and the second container 60B) of the sound recording device 10A are inserted among the container insertion window holes 134 of the probe body 130 shown in FIG. 20, the device-containing sphere 135 other than device units of the sound recording device 10A such as a photographing sphere into which a camera for photographing an outer side of a spherical container is built within a transparent spherical container and an illumination sphere into which a photographing illumination device with a camera of a photographing sphere is built within a transparent spherical container is inserted and held by the probe body 130.
In addition, only one device-containing sphere 135 is inserted into one container insertion window hole 134.
In the present specification, a configuration in which the device-containing sphere 135 is provided in the probe body (including a holder that holds the device-containing sphere 135 on the container support plate of the probe body and the like) is also referred to as a container-equipped probe body. The underwater probe includes a container-equipped probe body.
The underwater probe 100A exemplified in FIG. 20 has a container-equipped probe body of a configuration in which a plurality of device-containing spheres 135, each containing a device unit of the sound recording device 10A, are attached to the probe body 130.
However, the underwater probe of the embodiment according to the present invention is not limited to a configuration having a container-equipped probe body of a configuration in which a device unit of the sound recording device of the embodiment according to the present invention is provided in the probe body. The underwater probe can also employ a configuration in which the device unit of the sound recording device is connected to a container-equipped probe body, which does not include the device unit of the sound recording device, via a rope or the like (for example, an underwater probe 100B of FIG. 22).
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 25 to 27, the holder 137 for holding the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 on the container support plate 131 of the probe body 130 has a dome-shaped part 137a and a flange part 137b formed to protrude around the entire outer circumference of an end of an opening side of the dome-shaped part 137a. As shown in FIG. 26, the holder 137 also has spherical container pressing pads 137c provided at a plurality of locations on an inner surface of the dome-shaped part 137a.
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 26, two holders 137 are provided, the flange parts 137b overlap and the open ends of the dome-shaped parts 137a are butted against each other to configure a container cover body 139 that houses the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 inside a container-shaped part formed by the dome-shaped part 137a of each holder 137. The container cover body 139 houses the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 by abutting the spherical container pressing pads 137c on an inner side of each of the dome-shaped parts 137a of each holder 137 that constitutes the container cover body 139 against the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135. The container cover body 139 can house the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 in a state in which it is held at a position apart from the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 toward the inner surface side of the dome-shaped part 137a by the spherical container pressing pad 137c (specifically, it can be housed in the container-shaped part formed by the pair of dome-shaped parts 137a). The container cover body 139 can house the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 without the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 coming into contact with the device-containing sphere 135.
The holder 137 has a cover member that is an integrally molded product made of a synthetic resin in which the dome-shaped part 137a and the flange part 137b are formed. The cover member of the holder 137 housing the container 60 of the sound recording device 10A or the device-containing sphere 135 also serves as a protective cover that covers the container 60 of the sound recording device 10A or the device-containing sphere 135 to prevent collisions with a colliding object and the like. The cover member of the holder 137 may be made of metal.
The spherical container pressing pad 137c is a resin member that can prevent the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 from being scratched or prevent the container 60 from being damaged by localized stress.
If the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 is configured to be able to be held at a position apart from the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 toward the inner surface side of the dome-shaped part 137a by the spherical container pressing pad 137c of the container cover body 139 and to be housed within the container cover body 139 without coming into contact with the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137, for example, there are advantages that it is possible to prevent an impact force acting from the outside of the container cover body 139 from being directly transmitted from the container cover body 139 to the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 and to reduce the impact force transmitted from the container cover body 139 to the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135.
The holder 137 can be compatible with various outer diameters of the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 by providing a plurality of types with different protruding dimensions of the spherical container pressing pad 137c from the inner surface of the dome-shaped part 137a.
Moreover, the holder 137 can also employ a configuration in which the spherical container pressing pad 137c can be detached from the dome-shaped part 137a. The holder 137 in which the spherical container pressing pad 137c can be detached from the dome-shaped part 137a can be compatible with various outer diameters of the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 by changing a protrusion dimension of the spherical container pressing pad 137c from the inner surface of the dome-shaped part 137a by replacing the spherical container pressing pad 137c for the dome-shaped part 137a.
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 26, the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131. An inner diameter of the end of the opening side of the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 and an outer diameter of the end of the opening side of the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 is equal to or slightly smaller than a diameter of the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131. The dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 can be inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131.
As shown in FIG. 26, a pair of holders 137 constituting the container cover body 139 are attached to the container support plate 131 by inserting the dome-shaped part 137a of one holder 137 into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131 and bolting the flange parts 137b overlapping each other to the container support plate 131. The overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 are bolted (fastened) to the container support plate 131 using bolts 138a in a state in which they overlap around the entire circumference of the container insertion window hole 134 into which the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 is inserted on one side of the container support plate 131. The device-containing sphere 135 housed in the container-shaped part of the container cover body 139 attached to the container support plate 131 is held by the container cover body 139 in a state in which it is inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 with respect to the container support plate 131.
The dome-shaped part 137a inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131 may protrude toward a surface side opposite one surface on which the flange part 137b of the holder 137 of the container support plate 131 is provided. In FIG. 26, the dome-shaped part 137a inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131 protrudes toward a surface side opposite one surface on which the flange part 137b of the holder 137 of the container support plate 131 is provided. At least the end of the opening side of the dome-shaped part 137a inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 is arranged within the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131.
In FIG. 26, the overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 and the container support plate 131 overlapping the flange parts 137b are fastened and fixed by bolt and nut fastening using bolts 138a and nuts 138b passing therethrough. In addition, in FIG. 26, an example of a fixing structure in which the overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 and the container support plate 131 are fastened between the heads of the bolts 138a having threaded shafts passing therethrough and the nuts 138b into which the threaded shafts of the bolts 138a are screwed is shown.
However, as a structure for fastening (bolting) the overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 to the container support plate 131 using the bolts 138a, a structure in which the container support plate 131 made of metal is used for the structure exemplified in FIG. 26, the nuts 138b are changed to female threaded holes formed in the container support plate 131, and the threaded shafts of the bolts 138a allowed to pass through the overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 are screwed into the female threaded holes of the container support plate 131, and the overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 are fastened to the container support plate 131 by the bolts 138a can also be employed.
The bolts that fasten the holder 137 to the container support plate 131 can be attached to and detached from the container support plate 131 according to a rotational operation. The holder 137 can be attached to and detached from the container support plate 131 by attaching and detaching the bolts to and from the container support plate 131. The device-containing sphere 135 held on the container support plate 131 by the container cover body 139 attached to the container support plate 131 can be removed from the container support plate 131 by removing one or both of the pair of holders 137 of the container cover body 139 from the container support plate 131.
A window hole 137d is formed to be open in the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137 exemplified in FIGS. 25 and 27. The device-containing sphere 135 within the container-shaped part can be visually observed from the outer side of the container cover body 139 via the window hole 137d of the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137. The size of the window hole 137d can be changed as appropriate. Also, a configuration in which the window hole 137d is not formed in the holder 137 can be employed.
The holder 137 in which the window hole 137d is formed is used to hold the photographing sphere and the illumination sphere on the container support plate 131. The photographing sphere is housed in the container cover body 139 with a lens side of the camera aligned with the window hole 137d so that the outside of the container cover body 139 can be photographed by a camera through the window hole 137d in the dome-shaped part 137a of the holder 137. The illumination sphere is housed in the container cover body 139 by aligning a light emission side of an illumination device with the window hole 137d so that illumination light can be radiated from the illumination device inside the container 60 to the outside of the container cover body 139 via the window hole 137d in the dome-shaped part 137a.
In addition, the holder 137 is only shown in FIGS. 21 and 25 to 27 and is omitted in the other drawings.
A probe body of the underwater probe according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a weight support mechanism provided on the lower end of the probe body. As shown in FIG. 20, for example, the weight support mechanism supports the other end of the rope 143 (hereinafter also referred to as a weight rope) connecting the weight 144 to the probe body opposite an end to which the weight 144 is attached and prevents the weight 144 and the weight rope 143 from falling downward relative to the probe body. Also, a state in which the weight support mechanism supports the weight rope 143 and prevents the weight 144 and the weight rope 143 from falling downward relative to the probe body is hereinafter referred to as a weight support state.
Moreover, a transponder which transmits a signal (an underwater acoustic wave signal or a weight separation command signal) to the weight support mechanism via an underwater cable (an electrical cable) when a signal for issuing a weight separation command (the weight separation command signal) transmitted through underwater acoustic waves has been received from a watercraft is provided in the probe body. The weight support mechanism has a weight separation function of releasing the support of the weight rope 143 when the weight separation command signal output from the transponder is input in the weight support state and separating the weight 144 and the weight rope 143 from the probe body.
The probe body of the underwater probe according to the embodiment of the present invention may have a rope attachment part 130U (an upper-end rope attachment part) for attaching the rope to the upper end of the probe body.
The probe body 130 of the underwater probe 100A shown in FIG. 20 has the upper-end rope attachment part 130U provided on a fixing frame 132 (an upper fixing frame) on the upper end of the probe body 130 and the weight support mechanism (not shown) provided on a fixing frame 133 (a lower fixing frame) on the lower end of the probe body 130.
The rope 141 connecting the communication unit 142A to the probe body 130 is attached to the upper-end rope attachment part 130U on the upper end of the probe body 130.
The weight support mechanism has a rope attachment member to which the other end of the weight rope 143 opposite the end to which the weight 144 is attached is attached.
The upper-end rope attachment part 130U on the upper end of the probe body 130 and the rope attachment member of the weight support mechanism are each located on a central axis of a triangular cylinder formed by the three container support plates 131 of the probe body 130.
The communication unit 142A shown in FIG. 20 has a communication sphere 142, which is a simple buoyant body that does not house anything inside the container 60, a container support frame plate 136, which is a container support plate formed with only one container insertion window hole 134, and a radio wave communication device and a flasher attached directly to the container support frame plate 136 that houses the communication sphere 142. The communication unit 142A also has the container cover body 139 (not shown in FIG. 20) that is attached to the container support frame plate 136 and holds the communication sphere 142 inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 with respect to the container support frame plate 136.
The flange part 137b of the holder 137 constituting the container cover body 139 is fixed in an overlapping state to a circumferential part of the container insertion window hole 134 on one surface of the container support frame plate 136. The radio wave communication device and the flasher are attached directly to the part of the container support frame plate 136 that is not covered by the container cover body 139.
The radio wave communication device and the flasher each have a built-in battery and do not require an external power supply.
The container cover body 139 of the communication unit 142A shown in FIG. 20 houses the communication sphere 142 within the container-shaped part formed by the dome-shaped parts 137a of the pair of holders 137 containing the container cover body 139. The container cover body 139 is attached to the container support frame plate 136 by inserting one of the dome-shaped parts 137a of the pair of holders 137 constituting the container cover body 139 into the container support frame plate 136 and bolting the overlapping flange parts 137b of the pair of holders 137 to the container support frame plate 136 as in a case where the container cover body 139 is attached to the container support plate 131 in which a plurality of container insertion window holes 134 are formed.
The communication unit 142A can also employ a configuration in which the container support frame plate 136 is omitted and the entire outer surface of the container cover body 139 forms the entire outer surface of the communication unit 142A.
The container cover body 139 of the communication unit 142A in which the container support frame plate 136 is omitted is assembled by fixing the flange parts 137b of a pair of holders 137 together according to bolt and nut fastening or the like to integrate the pair of holders 137.
A buoyant force of the device-containing sphere 135 used in the underwater probe of the embodiment according to the present invention underwater is greater than the gravity acting on the entire device-containing sphere 135. A buoyant force is exerted on the device-containing sphere 135 submerged in water.
The buoyant force of the communication unit 142A underwater is greater than the gravity acting on the entire communication unit 142A, and the communication unit 142A generates a buoyant force when submerged in water.
On the other hand, the weight 144 of the underwater probe 100A generates a sinking force when submerged in water.
The underwater probe 100A shown in FIG. 20 is dropped into the water in a state in which the communication unit 142A is located at a position spaced above the probe body 130 and the weight 144 is located at a position spaced below the probe body 130 (the state shown in FIG. 20) and descends in a free fall while maintaining this state. The container-equipped probe body of the underwater probe 100A, which is entirely underwater, is maintained at a posture in which a longitudinal direction of the elongated plate-shaped container support plate 131 is roughly consistent with a vertical direction by the buoyant force of the communication unit 142A connected to the upper end of the probe body 130 via the rope 141 and the sinking force of the weight 144 connected to the lower end of the probe body 130 via the weight rope 143.
A transponder sphere, which is the device-containing sphere 135 housing a transponder within the container 60, is provided on the probe body 130 of the underwater probe 100A shown in FIG. 20. The transponder in the device-containing sphere 135 is connected to the weight support mechanism via an electrical cable passing through a penetrator provided in the container 60 of the transponder sphere inside and outside of the container 60. When the transponder receives a weight separation command signal transmitted by underwater sound waves from the watercraft, it transmits the weight separation command signal (an electrical signal) to the weight support mechanism via the electrical cable. The weight support mechanism has a weight separation function of releasing the support of the weight rope 143 and separating the weight 144 and the weight rope 143 from the probe body 130 when the weight separation command signal output from the transponder is input in the weight support state.
The underwater probe can also employ a configuration in which the transponder is not housed in the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135, but is attached to the container support plate 131 of the probe body using an attachment tool.
The underwater probe of the embodiment of the present invention has a probe body in which the device-containing sphere 135 housing the transponder within the container 60 is attached to the container support plate 131 or a probe body in which a transponder not housed in the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135 is attached to the container support plate 131 using an attachment tool.
An example of the weight support mechanism has a rope attachment member (not shown) attached to a constituent member on the lower end of the probe body 130 (the lower fixing frame 133 in the underwater probe 100A of FIG. 20) and a current-carrying device that allows an electric current to pass through a stainless-steel plate of a rope attachment member when the weight separation command signal output from the transponder is received.
When the current-carrying device receives the weight separation command signal output from the transponder, it allows an electric current to pass through the stainless-steel plate of the rope attachment member, thereby causing the stainless-steel plate to break by forced electrolytic corrosion in the sea.
This weight support mechanism is hereinafter also referred to as an electrolytic corrosion-breaking weight support mechanism.
The rope attachment member is attached to the lower end of the probe body 130, for example, by using a set screw. The set screw is attached to and detached from the probe body 130 according to a rotational operation. The rope attachment member is detachable from the probe body 130 and replaceable by attaching and detaching the set screw to and from the probe body 130.
The other end of the weight rope 143 opposite the one end to which the weight 144 is attached is attached to the lower end of the rope attachment member.
The rope attachment member can employ, for example, a configuration of a stainless-steel plate. The rope attachment member, which is entirely made of a stainless-steel plate, for example, is forced to undergo electrolytic corrosion and break at a part of the rope attachment member above the lower end to which the weight rope 143 is attached by an electric current applied from a current-carrying device. As a result, the weight rope 143 and the weight 144 are separated from the probe body 130 (the weight separation function).
The rope attachment member can also employ, for example, a configuration in which a rope attachment metal fitting, which is a metal fitting constituting the lower end of the rope attachment member and to which the weight rope 143 is attached, is fixed to the lower end of the stainless-steel plate by sandwiching an insulating plate (e.g., a ceramic plate, a resin plate, or the like).
The rope attachment member can also employ a configuration which has a stainless-steel plate, an upper-end metal fitting which is detachably fixed to the upper end of the stainless-steel plate by sandwiching an insulating plate, and a rope attachment metal fitting which is detachably fixed to the lower end of the stainless-steel plate by sandwiching an insulating plate and in which the upper-end metal fitting is detachably fixed to the probe body 130 by screwing or the like and attached to the probe body 130.
The weight support mechanism may also have a configuration (hereinafter referred to as a cantilever-type weight support mechanism) that includes a base member fixed to a constituent member at the lower end of the probe body 130 (the lower fixing frame 133 in the underwater probe 100A of FIG. 20), a bracket formed to protrude downward from the base member, a slender cantilever pivotally attached to the bracket, a rope attachment part that is a protruding piece formed to protrude like a hook from a base end of the cantilever pivotally attached to the bracket, a resin thread, and a resin thread cutting device.
Specific examples of the cantilever-type weight support mechanism can include an example disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6933840 .
The electrolytic corrosion-breaking weight support mechanism is applicable when the underwater probe is used in a water area such as underwater having an electrolyte concentration in which forced electrolytic corrosion of stainless-steel plates is possible according to a current-carrying process. On the other hand, the cantilever-type weight support mechanism can be used both when the underwater probe is used underwater and when the underwater probe is used in freshwater lakes and ponds other than the ocean.
In the present specification, a direction consistent with a longitudinal direction of the container support plate 131 with respect to the probe body 130 is referred to as a longitudinal direction.
The cantilever is pivotally attached to the bracket so that it is freely rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the probe body 130.
The resin thread is attached to a resin thread attachment part provided on a base member and to a tip of the cantilever opposite a base end, and the tip of the cantilever is supported to be suspended at a position spaced downward from the resin thread attachment part. The tip is supported to be suspended by the resin thread, and therefore the cantilever is maintained in a state in which it extends from the bracket in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the probe body 130 (hereinafter also referred to as an initial state). When the cantilever is in the initial state, the hook-shaped rope attachment part is oriented so that the opening is located at the top of the rope attachment part. The weight rope 143 is supported to be suspended from the rope attachment part via the ring by extrapolating the ring attached to the end into the rope attachment part. The rope attachment part is located at a position shifted from the rotation axis of the cantilever for the bracket to the tip side of the cantilever.
The resin thread is made of a thermoplastic resin. Examples of resins capable of being used to form the resin thread include polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS resin), acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS resin), acrylic resin, polyamide, polyacetal, polyester, and the like.
The resin thread cutting device has a heating part capable of heating the resin thread according to a current-carrying process. The resin thread cutting device applies an electric current to the heating part by receiving the weight separation command signal (the electrical signal) output from the transponder which has received the weight separation command signal transmitted by underwater acoustic waves from the watercraft, via an electrical cable, and therefore heats the resin thread to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the resin thread and cut the resin thread. The resin thread cutting device can heat and cut the resin thread by applying an electric current to the heating part underwater.
When the resin thread is cut, the load of the weight 144 acting on the rope attachment part causes the cantilever in its initial state to rotate with respect to the bracket so that its tip is lowered. The rope attachment part rotates integrally with the cantilever. Also, the opening of the rope attachment part moves to a lower part of the rope attachment part due to the rotation of the cantilever and the rope attachment part and the ring attached to the end of the weight rope 143 and extrapolated into the rope attachment part slides with respect to the rope attachment part and is extracted from the rope attachment part, and therefore the weight rope 143 and the weight 144 are separated from the probe body 130 (the weight separation function).
Next, specific examples of each device unit constituting the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 10.
FIGS. 3 to 6 show the sensing unit 110 and FIGS. 7 to 10 show the subunit 120.
In addition, FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective view showing the configuration of the sensing unit 110 of the sound recording device 10A of the present embodiment seen through the container 60 and FIG. 7 is an oblique perspective view showing the configuration of the subunit 120 seen through the container 60, wherein the container 60 is indicated by a solid line for clarity of illustration and the like.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the sensing unit 110 includes the sensor cable 51. The sensing unit 110 also includes a sound sensor 40. On the other hand, the subunit 120 does not have the sensor cable 51 or the sound sensor 40.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the sensing unit 110 includes penetrators 70 provided at two locations in the container 60. The penetrators 70 are tubular members with holes (cable holes) formed through the cable 50. The penetrators 70 are provided in the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 while penetrating a thickness (a wall thickness) of the container 60.
The penetrators 70 provided in the container 60 pass through the cable holes so that the cable 50 communicates with the inside and outside of the container 60.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, one first penetrator 71, which is the penetrator 70 through which the sensor cable 51 passes, and one second penetrator 72 through which the inter-container connection cable 53 passes are provided in the sensing unit 110.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor cable 51 passes through the cable hole of the first penetrator 71 of the sensing unit 110 and extends from the inside of the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 to the outside of the container 60. The sound sensor 40 is provided on the outside of the container 60. The cable hole of the penetrator 70 (the first penetrator 71) through which the sensor cable 51 passes serves as a sensor cable hole.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-container connection cable 53 of the sound recording device 10A passes through a cable hole of the second penetrator 72 of the sensing unit 110 and extends from the inside of the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 to the outside of the container 60. The cable hole of the penetrator 70 (the second penetrator 72) through which the inter-container connection cable 53 passes in the sensing unit 110 serves as an inter-container cable hole.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the subunit 120 includes the penetrator 70 provided at only one location of the container 60. The second penetrator 72 is provided in the container 60 of the subunit 120. This second penetrator 72 is provided in the container 60 of the subunit 120 while penetrating the thickness (the wall thickness) of the container 60.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-container connection cable 53 passes through the cable hole of the second penetrator 72 provided in the container 60 of the subunit 120 and extends to communicate with the inside and outside of the container 60 of the subunit 120. The cable hole of the second penetrator 72 through which the inter-container connection cable 53 passes in the subunit 120 serves as an inter-container cable hole.

(Container)

As shown in FIG. 1, the container 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention is spherical and hollow. By making the container 60 spherical, the pressure resistance of the sound recording device 10A can be increased. Moreover, because the container 60 is hollow, various devices can be placed inside the container 60. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the devices from being affected by water pressure. Here, a spherical shape includes not only a perfect sphere but also an approximately spherical shape.
Preferably, an inner surface of the container 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention is spherical. Thereby, it is possible to further increase the pressure resistance of the sound recording device 10A.
As shown in FIG. 1, the container 60 has a first hemispherical part 61 and a second hemispherical part 62. The first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 have an approximately symmetrical shape. The first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 have an approximately symmetrical shape, and therefore a connection part between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 can be made small. Thereby, it is possible to further improve the pressure resistance of the sound recording device 10A.
A material of the container 60 is not particularly limited as long as it has pressure resistance. An example of the material of the container 60 is glass. When the container 60 is made of glass, the connection part between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 may be processed according to frosted glass processing. Thereby, it is possible to improve the sealing performance of the container 60.
An exhaust valve 63 for discharging a gas from the inside of the container 60 is provided in the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 and the like. In the container 60 shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 and the like, the exhaust valve 63 is provided only on the first hemispherical part 61. In addition, the exhaust valve 63 may be provided only on the second hemispherical part 62. Moreover, the exhaust valve 63 may be provided on both the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62.
In the container 60, the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 are integrally spherical, and the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 can be securely integrated by reducing the pressure in the container by suctioning and exhausting a gas within the container 60 from the outside of the container via the exhaust valve 63.
A check valve, which is open when a pressure difference between the pressure outside the container 60 and the pressure inside the container 60 having a higher pressure than the pressure outside the container 60 is a preset magnitude or more and is closed when the pressure difference in an open state is less than the preset magnitude via the exhaust valve 63, is preferably employed for the exhaust valve 63.
The exhaust valve 63 having a configuration in which the state is switched between a closed state and an open state according to an operation of a constituent part (a constituent valve part) of the exhaust valve 63 from the outside of the container can be preferably employed.
In the spherically assembled container, the exhaust valve 63 is brought into the open state from the closed state according to the operation of the constituent part (the constituent valve part) of the exhaust valve 63 from the outside of the container, and the inner pressure of the container is brought into the same state as atmospheric pressure from a state in which it is lower than the atmospheric pressure, such that the separation between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 becomes easy.
The sound recording device 10A exemplified in FIG. 1 houses a power supply device 30 in each of the two spherical containers 60. Moreover, the sound recording device 10A can use not only the power supply device 30 of the sensing unit 110, but also the electricity of the power supply device 30 within the container 60 (the second container 60B) of the subunit 120 as driving power for the storage device 20 of the sensing unit 110 or the like via the inter-container connection cable 53.
Thus, the sound recording device 10A can increase an amount (a total amount) of electricity supplied by the power supply device 30. Thereby, it is also possible to lengthen the sound recording time of the sound recording device 10A.

(Sound sensor)

As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, the sound sensor 40 is provided outside the container 60. An attachment position of the sound sensor 40 on the underwater probe can be adjusted appropriately by bending and routing the flexible sensor cable 51.
A publicly known sound sensor can be used as the sound sensor 40. An example of the sound sensor 40 is a hydrophone.

(Power supply device)

In the embodiment of the present invention, the power supply device 30 is provided inside the container 60. As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply device 30 supplies electricity to electronic and electrical devices, which require a power supply, such as the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 of the sound recording unit 14. The power supply device 30 is electrically connected to the storage device 20 through the cable 50.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the power supply device 30 is provided inside the container 60, and therefore the power supply device may not have pressure resistance. Thereby, a degree of freedom in the configuration of the power supply device 30 can be ensured and it is possible to employ a power supply unit with a larger capacity to lengthen the sound recording time of the sound recording device 10A.
The sound recording device can also employ a configuration of three or more containers 60 housing the power supply device 30. The sound recording device having three or more containers 60 housing the power supply device 30 can further increase the amount (total amount) of electricity supplied by the power supply device 30 compared to a sound recording device having only two containers 60 housing the power supply device 30. As a result, the sound recording time of the sound recording device can be further lengthened.
A sound recording device having three or more containers 60 housing the power supply device 30 has the sensing unit 110 having the first penetrator 71 and the second penetrator 72, an intermediate unit which is the subunit 120 having two second penetrators 72, and an end unit which is the subunit 120 having only one second penetrator 72. The sound recording device can employ a configuration in which only one sensing unit 110 and one end unit and one or more intermediate units are provided and the device units are connected by the inter-container connection cable 53.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sound recording device 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention has at least the first container 60A and the second container 60B, and the second penetrator 72 for allowing the inter-container connection cable 53 connecting the first container 60A and the second container 60B to pass therethrough is provided in the first container 60A and the second container 60B.
As the power supply device 30, a publicly known power supply device can be used. The power supply device 30 may be a battery. An example of the battery is a secondary battery.
The power supply device 30 may be used by particularly securing a battery having one or both of a battery capacity and a voltage sufficient to achieve a purpose in accordance with the purpose of the required sound quality during observation and recording, an observation period (a sound recording period) of the underwater sound, or the like.

(Storage device)

As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, the storage device 20 is provided inside the container 60. Thereby, the storage device 20 may not have high-pressure resistance. The storage device 20 is supplied with electricity from the power supply device 30. The storage device 20 stores at least information measured by the sound sensor 40. The storage device 20 may store information other than the information measured by the sound sensor 40.
A publicly known storage device may be used for the storage device 20. The storage device 20 may be a non-volatile storage medium. Thereby, the power consumption of the storage device 20 can be reduced. Thereby, the power supply device 30 can further increase the amount of electricity to be supplied to electronic and electrical devices, which require a power supply, such as the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 of the sound recording unit 14. As a result, the sound recording time of the sound recording device 10A can be further lengthened.

(Cable)

The cable 50 connects various types of devices in the sound recording device 10A. When the cable 50 is also provided outside the container 60, the cable 50 preferably has pressure resistance. A publicly known cable can be used for the cable 50. The penetrator 70 provided in the container 60 may be of a type having a connector to which the cable 50 is connected.
A part of the inter-container connection cable 53 located between the containers 60 passes through a flexible protective hose having waterproof and pressure resistance. Both ends of the protective hose are connected to the penetrator 70 provided in the container 60 while ensuring waterproof. Moreover, one or more inter-container connection cables 53 may pass through the inside of the protective hose.

(Mounting base 80)

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mounting base 80 is provided inside the container 60.
Hereinafter, the mounting base 80 of the sensing unit 110 will be referred to as a first mounting base 80A and the mounting base 80 of the subunit 120 will be referred to as a second mounting base 80B.
The mounting bases 80A and 80B of the device units exemplified in FIGS. 3 to 10 have a container-fixed part 84 which is a member fixed to the container 60, a main mounting base plate 85 located at a position away from the container-fixed part 84, and a first support part 86A which is a support part provided between the main mounting base plate 85 and the container-fixed part 84 and connects the main mounting base plate 85 and the container-fixed part 84. The container-fixed part 84 is located at a position away from the main mounting base plate 85 on one surface side of the main mounting base plate 85. The container-fixed part 84 and the main mounting base plate 85 are each fixed to the first support part 86A and are fixed to each other via the first support part 86A.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, in addition to the container-fixed part 84, the main mounting base plate 85, and the first support part 86A, the mounting base 80 (the first mounting base 80A) of the sensing unit 110 has a board support plate 87, a storage device installation part 88 (an installation part), and a top plate 89 provided on the opposite side of the container-fixed part 84 via the main mounting base plate 85.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the mounting base 80 (the second mounting base 80B) of the subunit 120 has the top plate 89 but does not have the board support plate 87 and the storage device installation part 88.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 and the like, the container-fixed part 84 is formed in a circular plate shape.
The outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84 is adhesively fixed to the second hemispherical part 62 of the spherical container 60 using adhesive over its entire circumference. The mounting base 80A or 80B is fixed to the container 60 by adhesively fixing the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84 to the second hemispherical part 62 of the container 60.
All of the penetrators 70 provided on the container 60 of the device unit exemplified in FIGS. 3 and 7 are provided on the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60.
All constituent members other than the container-fixed part 84 of the mounting base 80 are located on the first hemispherical part 61 side of the container 60 from the container-fixed part 84.
In the mounting bases 80A and 80B of the device unit exemplified in FIGS. 3 to 10, the container-fixed part 84 also serves as a power supply device installation part in which the power supply device 30 is provided. In FIGS. 3 and 5 to 10, a state in which the power supply device 30 (the electrical device) is installed on a power supply device installation surface 84a, which is the surface of the container-fixed part 84 on the main mounting base plate 85 side, is exemplified. The power supply device 30 is provided on the power supply device installation surface 84a and housed in an area between the container-fixed part 84 and the main mounting base plate 85, and is fixed to the mounting base 80 by using a cord-like restraining device (not shown), such as a cable tie.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 to 7, 9, and 10, the plurality of first support parts 86A of the mounting base 80A or 80B are fixed to the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84. However, the fixing positions of the plurality of first support parts 86A on the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84 are different from each other in the circumferential direction of the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84. The mounting bases 80A and 80B in the example shown in the drawing have three or more first support parts 86A (specifically, four first support parts 86A in the example shown in the drawing). The fixing positions of the three or more (four in the example shown in the drawing) first support parts 86A of the mounting base 80A or 80B for the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84 are mutually different positions distributed approximately evenly in the circumferential direction of the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84.
An inner area surrounded by the three or more first support parts 86A in the surface direction of the container-fixed part 84 can be used as a whole to support the power supply device 30. The part of the container-fixed part 84 located outside the inner area surrounded by the three or more first support parts 86A can also be used to support the power supply device 30.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the board support plate 87, the storage device installation part 88, and the top plate 89 of the first mounting base 80A of the sensing unit 110 of the example shown in the drawing are formed in a flat plate shape.
The board support plate 87 is supported in a direction parallel to the main mounting base plate 85 at a position spaced toward an opposite side of the container-fixed part 84 with respect to the main mounting base plate 85 by a plurality of support parts (second support parts 86B) provided between the board support plate 87 and the main mounting base plate 85. The second support parts 86B are fixed to the board support plate 87 and the main mounting base plate 85. The board support plate 87 is fixed to the main mounting base plate 85 via the plurality of second support parts 86B.
The storage device installation part 88 is supported in a direction parallel to the board support plate 87 at a position spaced toward an opposite side of the container-fixed part 84 with respect to the board support plate 87 by a plurality of support parts (third support parts 86C) provided between the storage device installation part 88 and the board support plate 87. The third support parts 86C are fixed to the storage device installation part 88 and the board support plate 87. The storage device installation part 88 is fixed to the board support plate 87 via the plurality of third support parts 86C.
The storage device installation part 88 is fixed to the container-fixed part 84 via the third support part 86C, the board support plate 87, the second support part 86B, the main mounting base plate 85, and the first support part 86A and is supported in a direction parallel to the surface direction of the container-fixed part 84 with respect to the container-fixed part 84. In the first mounting base 80A exemplified in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the third support part 86C, the board support plate 87, the second support part 86B, the main mounting base plate 85, and the first support part 86A serve as support members that support the storage device installation part 88 at a position away from the container-fixed part 84 in a direction of a central axis of a circular outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the top plate 89 of the first mounting base 80A is supported in a direction parallel to the main mounting base plate 85 at a position away from the storage device installation part 88 to the opposite side of the main mounting base plate 85 by a plurality of support parts (fourth support parts 86D) provided between the storage device installation part 88 and the top plate 89. The fourth support part 86D is fixed to the storage device installation part 88 and the top plate 89. The top plate 89 is fixed to the storage device installation part 88 via the plurality of fourth support parts 86D. The top plate 89 is fixed to the main mounting base plate 85 via the plurality of fourth support parts 86D, the storage device installation part 88, and the plurality of third support parts 86C.
The mounting base 80 (the first mounting base 80A) of the sensing unit 110 exemplified in FIGS. 3 to 6 includes not only the container-fixed part 84, the main mounting base plate 85, the storage device installation part 88, and the top plate 89, but also the first to fourth support parts 86A to 86D. In the specification, the container-fixed part 84, the main mounting base plate 85, the storage device installation part 88, the top plate 89, and the first to fourth support parts 86A to 86D are also referred to as "mounting base configuration members."
The support parts 86A to 86D of the first mounting base 80A are fixed to the container-fixed part 84, the main mounting base plate 85, the storage device installation part 88, and the top plate 89 using a set screw (a mounting base set screw). The first mounting base 80A can be disassembled by rotating the mounting base set screw to release a fixed state of the support parts from the container-fixed part 84, the main mounting base plate 85, the storage device installation part 88, and the top plate 89, and by removing the mounting base set screw from the mounting base configuration members. Moreover, the first mounting base 80A can be restored from the disassembled state to the assembled state exemplified in FIGS. 3 to 6 by fixing the mounting base configuration members to each other using the mounting base set screw.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the circuit board 91 is provided on the board support plate 87 of the mounting base 80 (the first mounting base 80A) of the sensing unit 110, and the storage device 20 is provided in the storage device installation part 88.
The storage device 20 is fixed to the surface of the storage device installation part 88 opposite the board support plate 87 (the storage device installation surface 88a). The circuit board 91 is fixed to the surface of the board support plate 87 on the storage device installation part 88 side. In a process of fixing the circuit board 91 to the board support plate 87 and fixing the storage device 20 to the storage device installation part 88, for example, screw fastening, can be preferably employed.
The process of fixing the circuit board 91 to the board support plate 87 and fixing the storage device 20 to the storage device installation part 88 is not limited to screw fastening and can employ various methods. The screw fastening can be performed by rotating the set screw that penetrates an attachment target device, such as the storage device 20 or the circuit board 91 and switching the set screw between a screwed-in state and a detached state of the set screw in the device installation member such as the board support plate 87 or the storage device installation part 88, thereby enabling the attachment target device to be attached to or detached from the device installation member according to a switching process.
As a configuration for fixing the attachment target device to the device installation member, such as the board support plate 87 or the storage device installation part 88, a configuration for fixing the attachment target device to the device installation member so that the attachment target device can be attached and detached according to the switching process can be preferably employed. In addition to the screw fastening, as a configuration for fixing the attachment target device to a device installation member such as the board support plate 87 or the storage device installation part 88, various configurations including, for example, a configuration in which the attachment target device is sandwiched and fixed between the device installation member and a fixing plate having the elastic engagement claw engaged with the device installation member using the fixing plate having the elastic engagement claw engageable with and disengageable from the device installation member and formed to protrude and the like can be employed.
As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 28, the sound recording device 10A has the sound recording unit 14 including the preamplifier 11 (the electronic part) connected to the sensor cable 51, the filter 12 (the electronic part), the AD converter 13 (the electronic part), and the storage device 20. The preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 constituting the sound recording unit 14 of the sound recording device 10A are all provided inside the first container 60A. The preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13 of the sound recording unit 14 of the sound recording device 10A are mounted on the circuit board 91 attached to the mounting base 80 (the first mounting base 80A) of the sensing unit 110.
A control circuit for individually controlling the operations of the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 is formed in the circuit board 91. The storage device 20 is electrically connected to the control circuit of the circuit board 91 via the intra-container connection cable 52, and its operation is controlled by the control circuit of the circuit board 91.
As shown in FIG. 28, the preamplifier 11 is electrically connected to a base end of the sensor cable 51 opposite the tip where the sound sensor 40 is provided.
As described above, the sound sensor 40 of the sound recording device 10A is an element that converts the change in sound pressure acting on the sound sensor 40 into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal. The preamplifier 11 amplifies the electrical signal output from the sound sensor 40 to output the amplified electrical signal.
The filter 12 is electrically connected to the preamplifier 11 and the AD converter 13 via the wiring of the circuit board 91 and is provided between the preamplifier 11 and the AD converter 13. In addition, the electrical connection between the filter 12 and the preamplifier 11 and the electrical connection between the filter 12 and the AD converter 13 are not limited to the connection via the wiring of the circuit board 91 and can be appropriately changed to an electrical connection via the intra-container connection cable 52 or the like.
The filter 12 plays a role in determining a maximum value (an upper limit value) of the strength of the signal input from the preamplifier 11 to the AD converter 13. The filter 12 allows only a signal having a strength equal to or less than the maximum value (the upper limit value) among signals output from the preamplifier 11 to pass therethrough and prevents a signal with a strength exceeding the maximum value (the upper limit value) from being input from the preamplifier 11 to the AD converter 13.
The AD converter 13 is electrically connected to the storage device 20 attached to the mounting base 80 (the first mounting base 80A) of the sensing unit 110 via the intra-container connection cable 52.
The AD converter 13 specifically converts an electrical signal (an electrical analog signal) output from the preamplifier 11 into a digital signal using pulse modulation and causes the storage device 20 (a data memory shown as "memory" in FIG. 28) to store the digital signal.
As shown in FIG. 28, in the sound recording unit 14, the electrical signal output from the sound sensor 40 and transmitted via the sensor cable 51 is transmitted in the order of the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20, and is stored in the storage device 20.
As shown in FIG. 28, the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 are electrically connected to the power supply device 30 of the sound recording device 10A and are driven by electricity supplied from the power supply device 30. In FIG. 28, the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 are each electrically connected to the power supply device 30 of the sound recording device 10A via the intra-container connection cable 52.
The sound sensor 40 is an electronic device that converts the change in sound pressure acting on the sound sensor 40 into an electrical signal without a power supply and outputs the electrical signal and is an electronic device that does not require a power supply. The sound sensor 40 and the sensor cable 51 are not connected to the power supply device 30.
The filter 12 shown in FIG. 28 is an active type electronic part that requires a power supply and includes an active element such as an operational amplifier. This filter 12 is electrically connected to the power supply device 30 of the sound recording device 10A and uses the power supply device 30 as a power supply for the operation of the filter 12.
However, the filter 12 may be a passive type filter (a passive filter) that does not require a power supply instead of an active type filter. A passive filter that does not require a power supply is advantageously used because consumption of the battery capacity of the power supply device 30 is suppressed as much as possible to implement a long-term sound recording process of the sound recording device 10A. A passive filter is a filter including only passive elements such as a resistor, a coil, and a capacitor. When a passive filter is employed for the filter 12, there is no need to electrically connect the filter 12 to the power supply device 30.
The sound recording unit 14 can also employ a configuration in which the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20, which are electronic and electrical devices, are all mounted on a single circuit board.
The preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13 are not limited to electronic parts, and may be formed by circuits on the circuit board 91.
The sound recording unit can also employ a configuration including a recorder in which the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 are integrated and the preamplifier 11.
In addition, the storage device 20 has an output terminal for outputting stored information. A recorder having a configuration in which the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 are integrated can employ a configuration having an output terminal that outputs information stored in the storage device 20 or having a memory holder that is a housing that detachably holds the storage device 20 having an output terminal.
In addition, the sound recording unit can also employ a configuration in which one or both of the preamplifier 11 and the filter 12 are omitted from the sound recording unit 14 exemplified in FIG. 28.
The sound recording unit can also employ a configuration in which the AD converter 13 is omitted from the sound recording unit 14 exemplified in FIG. 28. The sound recording unit having a configuration in which the AD converter 13 is omitted from the sound recording unit 14 exemplified in FIG. 28 employs a storage device 20 that stores an electrical analog signal output from the sound sensor 40 as an analog signal as it is and is configured to store the electrical analog signal output from the sound sensor 40 in the storage device 20 without converting the electrical analog signal into a digital signal.
The sound recording unit has at least the storage device 20 among the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, and the storage device 20 of the sound recording unit 14 exemplified in FIG. 28. The sound recording unit can also employ a configuration in which one or more selected from the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13 are omitted.
For a sound recording unit of a configuration in which all of the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13 are omitted from the sound recording unit 14 exemplified in FIG. 28, the sensor cable 51 is electrically connected to the storage device 20. When the sound recording unit has one or more selected from the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13, the sensor cable 51 is electrically connected to the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, or the AD converter 13 located in the sound recording unit and having the earliest sequential order in light of the sequential order of the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, and the AD converter 13.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, a switch device 92 (an electrical device) to which a plurality of power supply devices 30 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 are connected and a barometer 93 that measures an air pressure inside the container 60 are provided in the main mounting base plate 85 of the first mounting base 80A.
Specifically, an aneroid barometer is used as the barometer 93. The barometer 93 can employ anything other than the aneroid barometer. For example, an electric barometer of a capacitance type or a vibration type uses electricity from the power supply device 30 of the sound recording device 10A, and therefore accelerates the consumption of the remaining battery power of the power supply device 30. On the other hand, the aneroid barometer can measure the air pressure inside the container 60 without a power supply, and a visually readable needle-type air pressure display method also does not require a power supply. The use of the aneroid barometer contributes to suppressing the consumption of the remaining battery power of the power supply device 30 of the sound recording device 10A and to lengthening a sound recording time (a sound recording period).
When the aneroid barometer is employed for the barometer 93, the container 60 housing the aneroid barometer can employ a transparent hollow glass sphere formed by integrating the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 into a spherical shape, and the air pressure indicated by the needle of the aneroid barometer can be visually read from outside the container 60.
The aneroid barometer is used to check the pressure (internal pressure) inside the container 60 when the gas inside the container 60, which is a hollow spherical transparent glass sphere formed by integrating the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62, is suctioned from outside the container 60 through the exhaust valve 63 and exhausted to reduce the pressure inside the container 60, and to check the presence or absence of leaks (or whether or not the reduced internal pressure of the container 60 is maintained stably) after the exhaust from the exhaust valve 63 of the container 60 whose internal pressure has been reduced to the desired pressure is stopped and the container 60 is left for a while. Moreover, the aneroid barometer is also used to check the internal pressure of the container 60 after it is dropped into the water and then pulled out of the water.
In FIG. 3 and the like, all the batteries of the power supply device 30 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 are connected in parallel and are connected to the switch device 92 provided on the first mounting base 80A via the container connection cable 52 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110. A power supply circuit for supplying electricity to electrical devices such as the preamplifier, the filter, the AD converter, the storage device 20, and an electronic control circuit of the sensing unit 110 is connected to this switch device 92.
Moreover, the other end of the inter-container connection cable 53, one end of which is connected to a switch device 94 (a second switch device) provided on the second mounting base 80B (see FIG. 7, FIG. 10, or the like) in the container 60 of the subunit 120, is also connected to the switch device 92.
The switch device 92 provided on the first mounting base 80A will hereinafter also be referred to as a first switch device 92.
All the power supply devices 30 within the container 60 of the subunit 120 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 are connected in parallel. All the power supply devices 30 within the container 60 of the subunit 120 are connected to the second switch device 94 (the electrical device) provided on the second mounting base 80B via the intra-container connection cable 52 (not shown) within the container 60 of the subunit 120.
The inter-container connection cable 53 is provided between the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 and the container 60 of the subunit 120. The first switch device 92 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 and the second switch device 94 within the container 60 of the subunit 120 are connected via the inter-container connection cable 53. All the power supply devices 30 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 and all the power supply devices 30 within the container 60 of the subunit 120 are connected in parallel via the inter-container connection cable 53, the first switch device 92, and the second switch device 94.
The power supply device 30 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 and the power supply device 30 within the container 60 of the subunit 120 are ultimately capable of supplying electricity to electronic and electrical devices such as the preamplifier, the filter, the AD converter, the storage device 20, and the electronic control circuit of the sensing unit 110 through the first switch device 92.
The sound recording device 10A can maintain the long life of the power supply device 30 by connecting the plurality of power supply devices 30 in parallel, thereby enabling sounds to be continuously recorded for a long period of time.
When the sound recording device 10A is in operation, the first switch device 92 and the second switch device 94 are operated by manually turning on the button switch on each switch device board or by bringing a permanent magnet close to the glass sphere from the outside during operation after the glass sphere is sealed and turning on a magnet switch (not shown) installed on an inner surface of the glass. Turning on the button switch or the magnet switch operates a relay switch, and therefore electricity from the power supply device 30 to the electronic and electrical devices of the sensing unit 110 is connected and supplied.
The button switch and magnet switch are provided in parallel. Either the button switch or the magnet switch can be used when the sound recording device 10A is in operation. When the button switch or the magnet switch device is turned on, electricity is supplied from the power supply device 30 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 and the power supply device 30 within the container 60 of the subunit 120 to the electronic and electrical devices such as the preamplifier, the filter, the AD converter, the storage device 20, and the electronic control circuit of the sensing unit 110.
The first switch device 92 and the second switch device 94 each have a power supply circuit from the power supply device 30 to supply driving electricity to the first switch device 92 itself or the second switch device 94 itself. This driving electricity is only required to turn on the relay switch during operation. The relay switch that is turned on does not require electricity because it mechanically maintains an ON state. The relay switch that is turned on is continuously maintained in the ON state from the time when the sound recording device 10A is operated to the time when the observation and recording of underwater noise are completed, and electricity is continuously supplied to the electrical devices such as the preamplifier, the filter, the AD converter, the storage device 20, and the electronic control circuit of the sensing unit 110.
In the sound recording unit 14, ON/OFF control is performed by a program preset in the electronic control circuit such as a control IC provided on the circuit board 91 within the container 60 of the sensing unit 110. When the sound recording unit 14 is in an ON state, an electrical signal output by the sound sensor 40 is stored in the storage device 20 and the sound acting on the sound sensor 40 is recorded. When the sound recording unit 14 is in an ON state, the sound recording unit 14 directly stores the electrical analog signal output by the sound sensor 40 or stores a digital signal after digital conversion of the electrical analog signal in the storage device 20. The sound recording unit 14 can select and execute both continuous sound recording and time-lapse sound recording (intermittent sound recording) by a program. However, in the case of the sound recording period of more than one day, the sound recording unit 14 can further reduce the consumption of electricity in the power supply device 30 in the time-lapse sound recording than the continuous sound recording. The time-lapse sound recording is more advantageous than continuous sound recording in terms of effectively utilizing the battery capacity of the power supply device 30 to ensure a long sound recording period. The sound recording unit 14 can also employ a configuration in which the continuous sound recording and the time-lapse sound recording are executed alternately by a program. To minimize the consumption of electricity of the power supply device 30, the sound recording unit 14, which alternately executes the continuous sound recording and the time-lapse sound recording according to the program, can preferably employ a configuration in which the time-lapse sound recording is performed for a longer period of time than the continuous sound recording period, and the time-lapse sound recording is mainly performed.
The sound recording device 10A can record sounds for a longer period of time by executing a time-lapse sound recording process of the sound recording unit 14 during the sound recording period. As a result, it becomes possible to compare underwater sound environments, for example, in the same season, at the same time, or the like, using sound recording data.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the sensing unit 110 can fix the mounting base 80 (the first mounting base 80A) to the container 60 (specifically, the second hemispherical part 62), thereby fixing the storage device 20, the power supply device 30, the circuit board 91 (the electronic device), the switch device 92, and the barometer 93 provided on the mounting base 80 or the preamplifier, the filter, the AD converter, and the switch control element provided on the circuit board 91 to the container 60.
Moreover, the first mounting base 80A is fixed to the container 60 (specifically, the second hemispherical part 62), and therefore the electronic and electrical device fixed to the first mounting base 80A can be supported by the mounting base 80 at a position away from the inner surface of the container 60 and contact with the inner surface of the container 60 can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the pressure resistance of the container 60 from being impaired due to the electrical device in the container 60 coming into contact with the container.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the mounting base 80 (the second mounting base 80B) of the subunit 120 is configured by omitting the board support plate 87, the third support part 86C, the storage device installation part 88, and the fourth support part 86D from the first mounting base 80A, and the top plate 89 is supported with respect to the main mounting base plate 85 by the second support part 86B instead of the board support plate 87. In the second mounting base 80B, the top plate 89 is fixed to the second support part 86B fixed to the main mounting base plate 85, and is supported by the second support part 86B in a direction parallel to the main mounting base plate 85 at a position away from the opposite side of the container-fixed part 84 with respect to the main mounting base plate 85.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the power supply device 30, the switch device 94, and the barometer 93 are provided in the mounting base 80 (the second mounting base 80B) of the subunit 120. The storage device 20 or the circuit board 91 is not provided in the second mounting base 80B.
The switch device 94 of the subunit 120 is provided on the main mounting base plate 85 of the mounting base 80 (the second mounting base 80B). The barometer 93 of the subunit 120 is provided on the top plate 89 of the mounting base 80 (the second mounting base 80B).
As described above, the power supply device 30 of the subunit 120 is provided on the container-fixed part 84 of the second mounting base 80B and is housed in an area between the container-fixed part 84 and the main mounting base plate 85. The power supply device 30 provided on the container-fixed part 84 of the second mounting base 80B and housed in the area between the container-fixed part 84 and the main mounting base plate 85 is fixed to the second mounting base 80B by using a cord-like restraining device (not shown) such as a cable tie.
By fixing the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 84 of the second mounting base 80B to the container 60 (specifically, the second hemispherical part 62), the subunit 120 can also fix the power supply device 30, an electronic and electrical device such as the switch device 92, and the barometer 93 provided on the second mounting base 80B to the container 60.
Moreover, by fixing the mounting base 80 to the container 60 (specifically, the second hemispherical part 62), the electronic and electrical devices and the like fixed to the second mounting base 80B can be supported by the mounting base 80 at a position space from the inner surface of the container 60, and contact with the inner surface of the container 60 can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the pressure resistance of the container 60 from being impaired due to the electrical devices in the container 60 coming into contact with the container.
A specific configuration of the mounting base 80 is not limited to the first mounting base 80A and the second mounting base 80B exemplified in FIGS. 3 to 10, and various modifications are possible.
It is only necessary for the first mounting base 80A provided within the container 60 (the first container 60A) of the sensing unit 110 to include one or more container-fixed parts fixed to the container 60, a storage device installation part having an installation surface on which the storage device 20 is provided, and a power supply device installation part having an installation surface on which the power supply device is provided. For example, a configuration that is a one-piece molded product made entirely of resin can be employed.
The first mounting base 80A can also employ, for example, a configuration in which the container-fixed part, the storage device installation part, and the power supply device installation part, which are respective separate parts, are connected by a connection member. On the other hand, a configuration in which the container-fixed part 84 having a disk shape also serves as the power supply device installation part, as in the first mounting base 80A and second mounting base 80B exemplified in FIGS. 3 to 10, has the advantages of reducing the number of parts in the mounting base, improving the efficiency of assembly work by simplifying the structure, and the like.
Moreover, the first mounting base 80A can also employ a configuration in which the storage device installation part also serves as the power supply device installation part.
The first mounting base 80A can also employ a configuration in which the storage device installation part 88 also serves as the board support plate 87. The first mounting base 80A has a storage device installation part 88 that also serves as the board support plate 87 and can also employ a configuration in which the main mounting base plate 85 is omitted and the storage device installation part 88 is supported by a support member at a position away from the container-fixed part 84 with respect to the container-fixed part 84.
In the first mounting base 80A, the top plate 89 can be omitted in terms of reducing the number of parts.
The second mounting base 80B can also employ a configuration in which the top plate 89 is omitted. When the top plate 89 is omitted from the second mounting base 80B exemplified in FIGS. 7 to 10, the barometer 93 attached to the top plate 89 may change an attachment position for the second mounting base 80B to the main mounting base plate 85.

A sound recording device 10B of a second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a modified example of the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment. A difference between the sound recording device 10B of the present embodiment and the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment is that a plate-shaped sound sensor 41 fixed to an inner surface of a first hemispherical part 61 of a first container 60A is employed for a sensing unit 110 instead of a sound sensor 40 outside the first container 60A and a first penetrator 71 is omitted. For a configuration other than these differences, the sound recording device 10B of the second embodiment can employ a configuration similar to that of the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment.
The sensing unit 110 of the sound recording device 10B of the second embodiment does not have the first penetrator 71 but has a second penetrator 72.
In addition, a method for fixing the plate-shaped sound sensor 41 to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 can be preferably employed by adhesive fixation or the like as in a third embodiment to be described below.
The sensing unit 110 of the sound recording device 10B of the second embodiment can preferably employ a configuration in which an exhaust valve 63 (not shown) of the container 60 (the first container 60A) is provided only on a second hemispherical part 62.
The exhaust valve 63 of the container 60 may be a source of noise when sounds are recorded underwater using a sound recording device. In the sensing unit 110 of the sound recording device 10 of the second embodiment, a configuration in which the exhaust valve 63 (not shown) of the container 60 is provided only on the second hemispherical part 62 is advantageous in ensuring a large distance between the sound sensor 41 and the exhaust valve 63 compared to a configuration in which the sound sensor 41 and the exhaust valve 63 are provided on the same hemispherical part of the container 60 (the first hemispherical part 61 in FIG. 2). Ensuring the large distance between the sound sensor 41 and the exhaust valve 63 is advantageous in terms of reducing or avoiding the influence of noise generated from the exhaust valve 63 on the measurement accuracy of the sound sensor 41.
Because a large distance between the sound sensor 41 fixed to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 and the exhaust valve 63 provided on the second hemispherical part 62 is ensured, it is advantageous for the sound sensor 41 to be provided at a position furthest from an opening of the first hemispherical part 61 in the first hemispherical part 61. Moreover, because a large distance from the sound sensor 41 fixed to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 is ensured, it is preferable for the exhaust valve 63 provided on the second hemispherical part 62 to be provided at a position furthest from an opening of the second hemispherical part 62 in the second hemispherical part 62.
Constituent elements other than the sound sensor of the sound recording device 10B of the second embodiment can be provided in the probe body 130 of the underwater probe 100A exemplified in FIG. 20 as in the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment.
The sound recording devices 10A and 10B exemplified in FIGS. 1 and 2 each have only one sound sensor. However, the sound recording devices 10A and 10B can also be configured to have two types of sound sensors with different frequency characteristics in accordance with a type of underwater sound to be observed and recorded.
For example, the sound recording device can also employ a configuration such that, for the sound recording device 10A exemplified in FIG. 1, the number of first penetrators 71 provided in the first container 60A is changed to two, two sound sensors 40 are provided on the tips of the sensor cables 51 passing through the different first penetrators 71, each of the two sound sensors is located outside the container 60, and the frequency characteristics of the two sound sensors 40 are different from each other.
Moreover, for example, with respect to the sound recording device 10B exemplified in FIG. 2, the sound recording device can also employ a configuration in which two sensor cables 51 and two plate-shaped sound sensors 41 provided on the tips of the sensor cables 51 and fixed to the inner surfaces of the first hemispherical parts 61 of the containers 60 of the sensing units 110 are provided and the frequency characteristics of the two sound sensors 41 may be different from each other.
The sound recording device can also employ a configuration in which a sound sensor 40 provided at the tip of one of the two sensor cables 51 and arranged outside the container 60 and a plate-shaped sound sensor 41 provided at the tip of the other sensor cable 51 and fixed to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 of the sensing unit 110 are provided and frequency characteristics of the sound sensors may be different from each other.
In addition, a sound recording device having two sound sensors with different frequency characteristics may employ a preamplifier and an AD converter corresponding to two channels to record sound observation data of each sound sensor.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a sound recording device 10C according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a sound recording device 10D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In addition, constituent parts identical to those of the sound recording devices 10A and 10B of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference signs and description thereof are simplified or omitted.
As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the sound recording devices 10C and 10D of the third and fourth embodiments are one-sphere type sound recording devices having only one container 60. The container 60 houses a mounting base 80 to which electronic and electrical devices constituting a sound recording unit 14 and an electronic and electrical device such as a power supply device 30 are attached.
The mounting bases of the sound recording devices 10C and 10D of the third and fourth embodiments will be referred to as third mounting bases hereinafter to distinguish them from the mounting bases of the sound recording devices 10A and 10B of the first and second embodiments. The third mounting bases are denoted by reference sign 80C in the drawings.
In the third and fourth embodiments, the sound recording devices 10C and 10D themselves correspond to a device unit and a device-containing sphere.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the sound recording devices 10C and 10D of the third and fourth embodiments have only one sound sensor.
As shown in FIG. 11, the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment has a plate-shaped sound sensor 41 fixed to an inner surface of the container 60. The sound sensor 41 is connected to the sound recording unit 14 (specifically, a preamplifier 11 in FIG. 28) via a sensor cable 51.
As shown in FIG. 12, the sound sensor 40 of the sound recording device 10D of the fourth embodiment is provided outside the container 60. The sound sensor 40 is connected to the sound recording unit 14 (specifically, the preamplifier 11 in FIG. 28) via the sensor cable 51. The sensor cable 51 passes through a penetrator 70 (a first penetrator 71) provided in the container 60 to communicate with the inside and outside of the container 60.
The sound recording device 10D of the fourth embodiment can employ a configuration similar to that of the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment, except that a sound sensor 40 is provided on a tip of the sensor cable 51 extending from the inside of the container 60 to the outside of the container 60 through the container 60.
FIGS. 13 to 15 show a specific example of a structure of the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment.
In addition, FIG. 13 is an oblique perspective view showing an internal structure seen through the container of the sound recording device 10C of the present embodiment, FIG. 14 is a perspective side view showing the internal structure seen through the container of the sound recording device 10C of the present embodiment, and FIG. 15 is a perspective front view showing the internal structure seen through the container of the sound recording device 10C of the present embodiment, but the container 60 is indicated by a solid line for clarity of illustration and the like.
As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, a waterproof tape 64 covering a boundary between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 of the container 60 is attached to an outer surface of the container 60. The waterproof tape 64 is attached to the container 60 by adhering one adhesive side to the outer surface of the container 60. The waterproof tape 64 is extended and arranged on the outer surface of the container 60 along the boundary between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 and covers the entire boundary between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62. The waterproof tape 64 can improve the waterproofness of the boundary between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62.
In addition, the waterproof tape 64 covering the entire boundary between the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 is not limited to the present embodiment, and can be widely applied to containers 60 in which the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 are integrated to configure a hollow sphere.
A mounting base 80 (a third mounting base 80C) of this sound recording device 10C has a container-fixed part 81 fixed to the container 60, and a storage device installation part 82 with a storage device installation surface 82a on which a storage device 20 is provided.
The third mounting base 80C exemplified in FIGS. 13 to 15 has, more specifically, a container-fixed part 81 formed in a disk shape, a storage device installation part 82 formed in a plate shape, and a support part 83 provided between the container-fixed part 81 and the storage device installation part 82 and configured to connect the container-fixed part 81 and the installation part 82. The disk-shaped container-fixed part 81 is provided on the container 60 by adhesively fixing its circular outer circumference to the second hemispherical part 62 of the container 60 using an adhesive, like the container-fixed part 84 of the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment.
A plurality of support parts 83 are provided between the container-fixed part 81 and the installation part 82. The support part 83 supports the storage device installation part 82 in a direction parallel to the container-fixed part 81 at a position away from the container-fixed part 81 in a direction of a central axis of a circular outer circumference of the container-fixed part 81 (a direction perpendicular to a surface direction of the container-fixed part 81). The support part 83 serves as a support member that supports the storage device installation part 82 at a position away from the container-fixed part 81 in the direction of the central axis of the circular outer circumference of the container-fixed part 81.
The sound recording device 10C shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 uses a power supply/sound recording device unit 20A in which the sound recording unit 14 and the battery (the power supply device 30) are housed within an exterior case. As described in the sound recording device 10A of the first embodiment, the sound recording unit 14 includes a storage device 20.
The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A in the example shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is configured to house the battery (the power supply device), the storage device 20, and the like in a cylindrical exterior case with a bottom and is formed in a cylindrical shape in appearance. The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A is provided on the storage device installation surface 82a, which is the surface of the storage device installation part 82 of the third mounting base 80C opposite the container-fixed part 81.
In the example shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A is held in the storage device installation part 82 by a storage device holder 171 provided on the storage device installation surface 82a side of the storage device installation part 82. The storage device holder 171 has a reception member 172 fixed to the storage device installation part 82 and a pressing member 173 that is detachably attached to the reception member 172 and holds the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A by pressing it down to the storage device installation part 82 from the side opposite the storage device installation part 82. The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A pressed to the storage device installation part 82 by the pressing member 173 of the storage device holder 171 can be detached from the storage device installation part 82 by removing the pressing member 173 of the storage device holder 171 from the reception member 172.
An L-shaped stay 82b for holding an extra length 51a of the sensor cable 51 is erected on the storage device installation surface 82a side of the storage device installation part 82 of the third mounting base 80C shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. The extra length 51a of the sensor cable 51 is compactly wrapped in a winding state and held by the L-shaped stay 82b using a cable tie.
As shown in FIGS. 13 to 17, the sound sensor 41 used in the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment is formed in a plate shape. The sound sensor 41 is adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 using adhesive 42.
As shown in FIG. 17, this sound sensor 41 has a configuration in which the lead wire 43 exposed from the tip of the sensor cable 51, the sensor element 44 provided on the tip of the lead wire 43, and the tip of the sensor cable 51 (a tip of a part covered by a cable sheath) are embedded together in plastic 45.
The sensor element 44 is an electronic part that converts a change in sound pressure acting on the sensor element 44 into an electric signal without a power supply and outputs the electric signal. A piezoelectric element can be preferably used as the sensor element 44.
The plastic 45 in which the sensor element 44 is embedded plays the role of an exterior member that houses the sensor element 44.
As shown in FIG. 18, the sound sensor 41 is made by cutting the plastic 45 (hereinafter also referred to as the embedding plastic) in which the lead wires 43, the sensor element 44, and the like are embedded from a state of its rectangular plate shape of an appearance cube to a curved surface 46 (a spherical surface) on the whole of one surface side of the embedding plastic 45 matching the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 according to a cutting process or the like and adhesively fixing the curved surface 46 to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 as shown in FIG. 16.
The sound sensor 41 may be produced, for example, by placing the lead wire exposed on the tip of the sensor cable 51 and the sensor element (the sound sensor) on the tip of the lead wire into a mold, filling the mold with a curable liquid resin, and hardening the resin to form the embedding plastic in which the lead wire tip and the sensor element are embedded. In this case, a sound sensor in which the embedding plastic has a curved surface (a spherical surface) formed to match the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 by the inner surface of the mold can be obtained.
The adhesive 42 (see FIGS. 13 to 15) that adheres and fixes the sound sensor 41 to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 is an adhesive resin material that can be hardened from a hardenable liquid resin material state (a liquid material state) to form a resin and adhere the sound sensor 41 to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60. The adhesive 42 of FIGS. 13 to 15 is the adhesive 42 in a state of a resin after hardening (a hardened resin state). The adhesive 42 is provided in a liquid material state between the sound sensor 41 and the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60, and adheres and fixes the sound sensor 41 to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 according to a hardening process.
The adhesive 42 provided between the sound sensor 41 and the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 in a liquid material state is preferably degassed and defoamed before the first hemispherical part 61 and the second hemispherical part 62 are joined together to assemble the container 60. The adhesive 42 in a liquid material state may start hardening before the degassing and defoaming process, during the degassing and defoaming process, or after the degassing and defoaming process is completed. However, the degassing and defoaming process is performed when the adhesive 42 is in the liquid material state and air bubbles can move within the liquid adhesive 42.
By degassing and defoaming the adhesive 42, it is possible to prevent the fixing force of the adhesive 42 from being excessively small even when the inside of the container 60 is decompressed. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably fix the sound sensor 41 to the inner surface of the glass container 60. Moreover, it is possible to prevent sound waves from being absorbed by air bubbles. There is no particular limitation on the adhesive 42, and any known adhesive can be used.
The adhesive 42 is preferably made of resin whose acoustic impedance is close to that of water or the container material. The adhesive 42 (adhesive in a hardened resin state) preferably has an acoustic impedance of 1.5×10⁵ to 3.0×10⁶ g/cm²sec (where sec is seconds) calculated from a "density ρ (kg/m³) of a medium" and a "sound speed c (km/s) in the medium" by ρ×c at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in a range of 1013.25±50 hPa. The "room temperature" is a temperature that is not particularly cooled or heated, i.e., an ordinary temperature, and includes, for example, temperatures of 15 to 25°C and the like. Moreover, the adhesive 42 can also be made of, for example, silicone or epoxy resin.
As shown in FIG. 19, the attachment of the sound sensor to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 may fix the lead wire 43 exposed by removing the sheath at the tip of the sensor cable 51 and the sensor element 44 (the sound sensor) provided on the tip of the lead wire 43 to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 using an adhesive tape.
In the sound recording device 10C shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the sound sensor 41 is provided inside the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 and the electronic-device-equipped mounting base having an electronic and electrical device provided on the third mounting base 80C is provided so that only the outer circumference of the container-fixed part 81 is in contact with only the second hemispherical part 62. Thereby, it is difficult for an influence of resonance of the constituent element of the electronic-device-equipped mounting base, collisions and sliding between constituent elements, or the like due to external vibrations applied to the sound recording device 10C to be transferred to the sound sensor 41 provided on the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61, and the measurement accuracy of the sound sensor 41 can be further improved.
Moreover, the sound recording device 10C does not have a penetrator 70. Moreover, the exhaust valve 63 is provided only on the second hemispherical part 62. Thereby, the sound recording device 10C can further improve the measurement accuracy of the sound sensor 41.
The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 has a structure in which the sound recording unit 14 including the storage device 20 and the battery (the power supply device) are built into an exterior case.
The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A requires only a short power supply path between the storage device 20 and the power supply device 30, and can reduce the consumption of the battery capacity of the power supply device due to discharge. Moreover, the sound recording device 10C shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 does not have a switch device or a circuit board and there is no need to supply power to the switch device or the circuit board, and therefore it is possible to effectively contribute to reducing the consumption of the battery capacity of the power supply device of the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A.
For these reasons, the sound recording device 10C shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 has a configuration that is advantageous for lengthening the available recording time.
The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A includes a sound recording unit 14 more specifically having the configuration exemplified in FIG. 28 and a base end of the sensor cable 51 opposite the tip where the sound sensor 41 is provided is electrically connected to the preamplifier 11 of the sound recording unit 14.
Moreover, the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A can preferably employ a configuration in which the preamplifier 11, the filter 12, the AD converter 13, the memory (the storage device 20) of the sound recording unit 14 with the configuration exemplified in FIG. 28 and the battery (the power supply device 30) that is further added are integrated into an integrated unit (an electronic and electrical device unit) and removably housed in an exterior case.
The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A can preferably employ a configuration having a memory holder electrically connected to the AD converter and the storage device 20 that is a storage medium (a memory) detachably held in the memory holder. The storage medium (the storage device 20) can preferably employ, for example, a card-type medium that can be inserted into and removed from the memory holder.
The electronic and electrical device unit can also employ a configuration in which the preamplifier, the AD converter, and the memory holder are mounted on the same circuit board, and the AD converter and the storage medium held by the memory holder are electrically connected via wiring on the circuit board or an electrical cable provided between the AD converter and the memory holder.
The electronic and electrical device unit can be housed in an exterior case after electronic and electrical devices (hereinafter also referred to as unit configuration devices) constituting the electronic and electrical device unit are electrically connected and assembled. The exterior case of the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A has a cylindrical case body and an opening and closing lid that opens and closes one axial end of the case body. The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A is assembled by inserting the electronic and electrical device unit into the case body with one axial end of the case body of the exterior case open, then closing one axial end of the case body with the opening and closing lid, and housing the electronic and electrical device unit in the exterior case.
The electronic and electrical device unit can be assembled outside the exterior case and reliably electrically connected between the unit configuration devices. Moreover, because the electronic and electrical device unit has a plurality of unit configuration devices that are fixed and integrated, it is possible to prevent relative displacement between the unit configuration devices even if vibrations or an impact force act on the electronic and electrical device unit in a state in which it is housed in the container 60. As a result, the electronic and electrical device unit has an advantage in that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a connection failure, a disconnection, or the like of connection parts such as a soldering part and a connector connection part for electrically connecting unit configuration devices and to maintain a stable electrical connection state.
The power supply/sound recording device unit 20A is not limited to a configuration having an exterior case and can also employ a configuration in which the electronic and electrical device unit itself is attached to a mounting base without an exterior case. However, because relative displacement between the unit configuration devices is prevented even if vibrations or an impact force act on the electronic and electrical device unit housed in the container 60 and a stable electrical connection state between the unit configuration devices is maintained, the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A having a configuration in which the electronic and electrical device unit is housed in the exterior case is advantageous.
The sound recording devices 10C and 10D exemplified in FIGS. 11 and 12 have only one sound sensor.
However, the sound recording device can also be configured to have two types of sound sensors with different frequency characteristics depending on the type of underwater sound to be observed and recorded.
For example, with respect to the sound recording device 10C exemplified in FIG. 11, the sound recording device can also employ a configuration in which two sensor cables 51 and two plate-shaped sound sensors 41 provided on the tips of the sensor cables 51 and fixed to the inner surfaces of the first hemispherical parts 61 of the containers 60 are provided and the frequency characteristics of the two sound sensors 41 may be different from each other.
Moreover, for example, the sound recording device can also employ a configuration such that, for the sound recording device 10D exemplified in FIG. 12, the number of first penetrators 71 provided in the container 60 is changed to two, two sound sensors 40 are provided on the tips of the sensor cables 51 passing through the different first penetrators 71, each of the two sound sensors is located outside the container 60, and the frequency characteristics of the two sound sensors 40 are different from each other.
The sound recording device can also employ a configuration in which a sound sensor 40 provided on the tip of one of the two sensor cables 51 and arranged outside the container 60 and a plate-shaped sound sensor 41 provided on the tip of the other sensor cable 51 and fixed to the inner surface of the first hemispherical part 61 of the container 60 are provided and frequency characteristics of the sound sensors may be different from each other.
In addition, a sound recording device having two sound sensors with different frequency characteristics may employ a preamplifier and an AD converter corresponding to two channels to record sound observation data of each sound sensor.
In the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, there is no electronic or electrical device provided on the container-fixed part 81 of the mounting base 80.
In this regard, the container-fixed part is not limited to a disk-shaped and may be annular.
The disk-shaped container-fixed part 81 and the annular container-fixed part can abut its entire outer circumference against the inner surface of the second hemispherical part 62 of the container 60 and can be adhesively fixed to the second hemispherical part 62 using adhesive. Therefore, the position and orientation of the mounting base 80 for the second hemispherical part 62 can be easily adjusted when the mounting base 80 is adhesively fixed to the second hemispherical part 62.
In the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 to 15, for example, it is possible to provide a large power supply device having a larger capacity than the built-in battery of the power supply/sound recording device unit 20A in a space between the container-fixed part 81 and the storage device installation part 82. Also, in this sound recording device 10C, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the power supply device provided in the space between the container-fixed part 81 and the storage device installation part 82 is connected to the storage device 20 and used to supply power to the storage device 20.
However, for the container 60 provided in the underwater probe, a container of an appropriate size is used to ensure an appropriate buoyant force in consideration of the gravity acting on the entire device, including the container 60 itself and the contained objects housed therein.

FIG. 22 shows an example of an underwater probe 100B into which the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment (a second example of an underwater probe) is built.
In FIG. 22, an upper side of the underwater probe 100B may be referred to as "upper" and a lower side thereof may be referred to as "lower."
In addition, constituent parts in FIG. 22 identical to those in FIGS. 20 and 21 are denoted by the same reference signs and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.
The underwater probe 100B shown in FIG. 22 has a probe body 150 having a container support plate 131 on which a device-containing sphere 135 is provided, a sound recording device unit 161, a buoyant force adjustment unit 162A, and a communication unit 142A connected to an upper end of the probe body 150 via a rope. The underwater probe 100B also has a weight 144 connected to a lower end of the probe body 150 via a weight rope 143, and a ladder-shaped feeding frame 145 pivotally attached to the lower end of the probe body 150.
The probe body 150 of the underwater probe 100B exemplified in FIG. 22 has a schematic configuration in which the number of elongated plate-shaped container support plates 131 of the probe body 130 of the first example shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is changed to only one and an upper fixing frame 132 and a lower fixing frame 133 are omitted.
The probe body 150 also has a weight support mechanism. Moreover, a transponder is provided on the probe body 150. In the second example of the underwater probe 100B, the transponder is not housed in the container 60 of the device-containing sphere 135, but is attached to the container support plate 131 of the probe body 150 using an attachment tool. In the underwater probe 100B of the second example, the weight support mechanism is attached to the lower end of the container support plate 131 of the probe body 150.
The configuration and function of the weight support mechanism and transponder are similar to those of the weight support mechanism and transponder provided in the probe body 130 of the underwater probe 100A of the first example.
In addition, the weight support mechanism and transponder are provided in the probe body and the container-equipped probe body of all underwater probes in the embodiments according to the present invention.
The device-containing sphere 135 inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support plate 131 is held using a holder (not shown) on the container support plate 131 of the probe body 150.
In addition, the probe body of the underwater probe 100B is not limited to the configuration of the example shown in the drawing and various configurations can be employed. For example, the probe body 130 exemplified in FIG. 20 or the like can be employed as the probe body of the underwater probe 100B.
The sound recording device unit 161 shown in FIG. 22 is a unit in which the sound recording device 10C is held by a holder 137 (see FIG. 24) on a container support frame plate 136, which is a container support plate on which only one container insertion window hole 134 is formed. In the sound recording device unit 161, the sound recording device 10C is inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support frame plate 136 and is held on the container support frame plate 136 by a holder (not shown).
FIG. 24 shows a state in which a weight rope 143 and a weight 144 are provided in the sound recording device unit 161 and are put into a water tank containing water.
As shown in FIG. 24, the sound recording device 10C of the sound recording device unit 161 is covered by the holder 137 having a dome-shaped part 137a and a flange part 137b formed to protrude around the entire outer circumference of an end of an opening side of the dome-shaped part 137a.
In FIG. 24, the weight 144 attached to the sound recording device unit 161 via the weight rope 143 is attached to the bottom of the water tank. The sound recording device unit 161 is floating above the weight 144 due to the buoyant force of the container 60 of the sound recording device 10C. In FIG. 24, the sound recording device unit 161 is fastened to the weight 144 via the weight rope 143.
The buoyant force adjustment unit 162A has the buoyant force adjustment sphere 162, which is a hollow sphere, held on the container support frame plate 136.
In the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A, the buoyant force adjustment sphere 162 is inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the container support frame plate 136 and is held on the container support frame plate 136 by a holder (not shown). The buoyant force adjustment sphere 162 can employ, for example, a glass sphere with a half-split structure similar to the container 60 of the sound recording device 10C. The buoyant force adjustment sphere 162 is a one-piece hollow spherical molded product and can employ a sealed hollow sphere made of glass that cannot be opened. The container 60 of the sound recording device 10C is an openable hollow spherical container with a half-split structure having an exhaust valve 63 that can be switched between a closed state and an open state by operating from outside the container.
The buoyant force of the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A is ensured to be smaller than the buoyant force of the communication unit 142A.
The buoyant force of the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A can be adjusted by a size of the buoyant force adjustment sphere 162. The buoyant force adjustment sphere 162 is an empty hollow spherical container with no contained objects inside. The buoyant force adjustment sphere 162 is provided in a plurality of sizes, and an appropriate size is selected and used in consideration of the buoyant force to be ensured in the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A.
In FIG. 22, the sound recording device unit 161 is connected to the upper end of the probe body 150 via a first rope 163 attached to the upper end of the probe body 150. The buoyant force adjustment unit 162A is connected to the sound recording device unit 161 via a second rope 164.
The communication unit 142A is connected to the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A via a third rope 165.
A configuration in which a device-containing sphere 135 is provided in the probe body 150 (including a holder that holds the device-containing sphere 135 on the container support plate 131) is hereinafter also referred to as a container-equipped probe body 150A. Moreover, the container-equipped probe body 150A exemplified in FIG. 22 is configured such that the device-containing spheres 135 inserted one by one into all of the container insertion window holes 134 of the container support plate 131 of the probe body 150 are each held on the container support plate 131 by a holder (not shown).
The feeding frame 145 of the underwater probe 100B is formed in a ladder shape using solid metal rods. A buoyant force obtained by subtracting the gravity acting on the entire sound recording device unit 161 from the buoyant force of the sound recording device unit 161 is ensured to be equal to or greater than a buoyant force obtained by subtracting the gravity acting on the entire container-equipped probe body 150A and the feeding frame 145 from the buoyant force of the entire container-equipped probe body 150A.
When the underwater probe 100B shown in FIG. 22 is dropped into water such as the ocean, it descends underwater due to the mass of the weight 144. The underwater probe 100B that has been lowered into the water can receive operation commands in the form of acoustic wave signals propagating underwater. When the underwater probe 100B receives a weight separation signal in the form of an underwater acoustic wave signal, the weight rope mounting bracket supporting the weight rope 143 attached to the weight 144 releases the support of the weight rope 143 and separates the weight 144 from the probe. As a result, the underwater probe 100B begins to rise.
Here, a case where the first to third ropes 163 to 165 shown in FIG. 22 are several times longer than a vertical dimension of the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A will be described. In addition, it is assumed that the vertical dimension of the sound recording device unit 161 is similar to the vertical dimension of the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A.
In this case, if the buoyant force obtained by subtracting the gravity acting on the entire buoyant force adjustment unit 162A from the buoyant force of the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A is greater than the buoyant force obtained by subtracting the gravity acting on the entire communication unit 142A from the buoyant force of the communication unit 142A, there is a risk that the rising buoyant force adjustment unit 162A will overtake the communication unit 142A and the ropes (the second rope 164 and the third rope 165) will become entangled. If the rope becomes tangled, problems that the sound recording device unit 161, the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A, the communication unit 142A, and the container-equipped probe body 150A collide with each other and damage and the like can easily occur.
In consideration of the above-described problems, it is possible to take measures such as (1) shortening the rope (the third rope 165) between the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A and the communication unit 142A (a first tangle prevention measure), (2) directly connecting the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A and the communication unit 142A (a second tangle prevention measure), and (3) ensuring that the communication unit 142A has a greater buoyant force than the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A (a third tangle prevention measure).
As the third tangle prevention measure, a process of increasing the buoyant force of the communication unit 142A by employing a communication sphere 142 with a larger spherical container size is considered.
In the underwater probe 100B, a buoyant force greater than those of the sound recording device unit 161 and the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A is ensured in the communication unit 142A.
Even if the buoyant force of the sound recording device unit 161 is less than that of the communication unit 142A, if it is greater than that of the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A, there is a problem that the rising sound recording device unit 161 will overtake the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A and the ropes (the first rope 163, the second rope 164, and the third rope 165) will become entangled. However, entanglement of the ropes caused by the sound recording device unit 161 overtaking the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A while the underwater probe 100B is rising is less likely to occur than entanglement of the ropes caused by the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A overtaking the communication unit 142A.
To more reliably prevent the ropes from becoming tangled, the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A preferably has a greater buoyant force than the sound recording device unit 161. The buoyant forces of the sound recording device unit 161 and the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A can be adjusted by designing the device housed within the container 60 of the sound recording device 10C and the like and by selecting the size of the container 60.

FIG. 23 shows an example of an underwater probe 100C (a third example of an underwater probe) into which a sound recording device 10C is built.
In FIG. 23, an upper side of the underwater probe 100C may be referred to as "upper" and a lower side thereof may be referred to as "lower."
In addition, constituent parts in FIG. 23 identical to those in FIGS. 20 and 22 are denoted by the same reference signs and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.
The underwater probe 100C shown in FIG. 23 includes a container support plate 183 having a vertical container support part 181 in the form of an elongated plate and an upper container support part 182 provided on an upper end of the vertical container support part 181. The upper container support part 182 is formed in the form of an elongated plate extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vertical container support part 181. The probe body 180 also has a rope attachment member and a transponder (not shown) attached to the container support plate 183.
As shown in FIG. 23, the underwater probe 100C of the present example does not have a communication unit 142A, a sound recording device unit 161, or a buoyant force adjustment unit 162A.
The underwater probe 100C of the present example is configured to have a probe body 180, a weight rope 143, a weight 144, and a feeding frame 145.
The vertical container support part 181 of the container support plate 183 has a plurality of container insertion window holes 134 formed in the longitudinal direction. The vertical container support part 181 holds the device-containing sphere 135 inserted into the container insertion window hole 134 of the vertical container support part 181 using a holder (not shown).
The upper container support part 182 of the container support plate 183 has two container insertion window holes 134 formed in the longitudinal direction (the extension direction). The upper container support part 182 holds the sound recording device 10C inserted into one of the two container insertion window holes 134 and the device-containing sphere 135 inserted into the other container insertion window hole 134 using a holder (not shown).
In addition, the configuration of the probe body 180 is different from the configuration of the probe body 150 of the underwater probe 100B of the second example only in that a container support plate 183 having the vertical container support part 181 and the upper container support part 182 is used instead of the elongated plate-shaped container support plate 131. The configuration of the probe body 180 other than the container support plate 183 is similar to that of the probe body 150 of the underwater probe 100B of the second example.
The underwater probe 100C of the present example does not have a communication unit 142A, a sound recording device unit 161, or a buoyant force adjustment unit 162A. The underwater probe 100B of the second example adjusts the buoyant force of the communication unit 142A, the sound recording device unit 161, and the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A to prevent the rope from getting tangled, but the underwater probe 100C does not need to adjust the buoyant forces of the communication unit 142A, the sound recording device unit 161, and the buoyant force adjustment unit 162A.
In addition, the underwater probe 100C of the present example includes a radio beacon (or an iridium beacon) and a flasher (not shown) that are not housed in the container 60 but are fixed to the container support plate 183 using a band or the like. The radio beacon (or the iridium beacon) and the flasher, which are radio wave communication devices, are communication devices of the underwater probe 100C. The radio beacon (or the iridium beacon) and the flasher are fixed, for example, to the upper container support part 182 of the container support plate 183.
The underwater probe can employ a configuration using the sound recording device 10D of the fourth embodiment instead of the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment with respect to the underwater probe 100C exemplified in FIG. 23.
The present inventors have prototyped the sound recording device 10C of the third embodiment exemplified in FIGS. 13 to 15 and the underwater probe 100A of FIG. 20 or the like using this sound recording device 10C, and have observed and recorded underwater sounds for a long period of one year on the deep-sea floor at a depth of 5,500 m using the prototyped underwater probe 100A. A lithium-ion battery is used as the power supply.
In shallow waters or at depths of about 3,500 m, underwater sound recording is possible for about 30 to 90 days using a commercially available external power supply having a configuration in which a battery or the like is housed in a metallic exterior case. However, because external power supplies that enable underwater sound recording for about 30 to 90 days are large in size and heavy in weight, a large-scale mooring facility is required. It is difficult to observe and record underwater sounds near the deep-sea floor at a depth of 5,500 to 6,000 m where manganese nodules and rare earth mud are present because a larger-scale mooring facility is necessary and mooring itself is not easy. At present, there are no underwater sound recording devices or technologies that can handle long-term sound recording for 30 days or more even in deep-sea areas.
On the other hand, the hollow glass sphere for use in the container 60 of the sound recording device of the embodiment according to the present invention has highpressure resistance that enables use on the deep-sea floor at a depth of 6,000 m while fully withstanding the high pressure and is also advantageous in terms of weight reduction. In a configuration in which the power supply device 30 is housed within the container 60, there is no need to ensure pressure resistance for the power supply device 30. Moreover, the sound recording device also houses the power supply device 30, the AD converter, the storage device 20, and various electronic and electrical devices including a preamplifier and the like as necessary in one or more containers 60. There is no need to ensure pressure resistance for electronic and electrical devices other than the power supply device 30 housed in the hollow glass spherical container 60.
Ensuring pressure resistance for the device can easily lead to an increase in size and weight of the device. Eliminating the need to ensure pressure resistance for all electronic and electrical devices housed in the hollow glass spherical container 60 effectively contributes to the suppression of an increase in the size of the sound recording device and the lightweight thereof.
Because the power supply device 30 can be housed in the sound recording device container 60 without the need to ensure pressure resistance, a power supply unit having a smaller size than a conventional external power supply can be used. Housing a plurality of power supply device 30 in the container 60 of the sound recording device makes it easy to observe and record underwater sounds for long periods of time.
The sound recording device and underwater probe of the embodiments according to the present invention can observe and record "underwater noise" serving as an impact evaluation target according to construction and development, "background noise" that is the baseline in environmental impact assessment and "underwater biological sounds" generated by organisms to be protected or organisms to be protected or considered over a long period of time.
The underwater probe according to the present invention has a probe body including a container support plate, a rope attachment member provided on a lower part of the probe body, a weight rope supported by the rope attachment member, and a weight attached to the weight rope, and is of a free-fall type that descends underwater under its own weight including the weight and rises by separating the weight from the probe body after descent. Because this underwater probe is of the free-fall type, no mooring facility is required. Observation and recording of underwater sounds using this underwater probe can be achieved at a lower cost than when mooring is required. Moreover, observation and recording of underwater sounds can be performed even in places where it is difficult to install a mooring facility.
"Having" or "including" a certain constituent element throughout the specification does not mean that other constituent elements are not excluded, but that other constituent elements can be included, unless otherwise specified.
Moreover, the term "part" in the specification also means a unit that processes at least one function or operation and may be embodied as hardware or software or may be a combination of hardware and software.
In addition, the constituent elements in the above-described embodiment can be replaced with well-known constituent elements as appropriate, and the above-mentioned modified examples may be combined as appropriate, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention, because it is possible to provide a sound recording device and an underwater probe that can record sounds for long periods of time even in deep-sea areas, industrial applicability is high.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10A, 10B, 10C, 10D Sound recording device
11 Preamplifier
12 Filter
13 Sound recorder (AD converter)
14 Sound recording unit
20 Storage device
20A Power supply/sound recording device unit
30 Power supply device
40 Sound sensor
41 Sound sensor
42 Adhesive
43 Lead wire
44 Sound sensor (sensor element)
45 Embedding plastic (exterior member)
46 Curved surface
50 Cable
51 Sensor cable (electrical cable)
51a Extra length (of sensor cable)
52 Intra-container connection cable (electrical cable)
53 Inter-container connection cable (electrical cable)
60 Container
60A First container
60B Second container
61 First hemispherical part
62 Second hemispherical part
63 Exhaust valve
64 Waterproof tape
70 Penetrator
71 First penetrator
72 Second penetrator
80 Mounting base
80A First mounting base
80B Second mounting base
80C Third mounting base
81 Container-fixed part
82 Storage device installation part
82a Storage device installation surface
82b L-shaped stay
83 Support part
84 Container-fixed part (power supply device installation part) (of first or second mounting base)
84a Power supply device installation surface
85 Main mounting base plate
86A First support part (support part)
86B Second support part
86C Third support part
86D Fourth support part
87 Board support plate
88 Storage device installation part
88a Storage device installation surface
89 Top plate
91 Circuit board
92 Switch device (first switch device)
93 Barometer
94 Switch device (second switch device)
100A, 100B, 100C Underwater probe
110 Sensing unit
120 Subunit
130 Probe body
130U Rope attachment part (upper-end rope attachment part)
131 Container support plate
132 Fixing frame (upper fixing frame)
133 Fixing frame (lower fixing frame)
134 Container insertion window hole
135 Device-containing sphere
136 Container support frame plate
137 Holder
137a Dome-shaped part
137b Flange part
137c Spherical container pressing pad
137d Window hole
138a Bolt
138b Nut
139 Container cover body
141 Rope
142 Communication sphere
142A Communication unit
143 Weight rope
144 Weight
145 Feeding frame
150 Probe body
150A Container-equipped probe body
161 Sound recording device unit
162 Buoyant force adjustment sphere
162A Buoyant force adjustment unit
163 First rope
164 Second rope
165 Third rope
171 Storage device holder
172 Reception member
173 Pressing member
180 Probe body
181 Vertical container support part
182 Upper container support part
183 Container support plate

Claims

A sound recording device comprising:
a hollow spherical container;

a power supply device arranged inside the container;

a sound recording unit including a storage device and arranged inside the container; and

a sound sensor fixed to an inner surface of the container and/or a sound sensor arranged outside the container,

wherein the sound sensor is electrically connected to the sound recording unit via a cable.
The sound recording device according to claim 1, wherein, when the sound sensor is provided inside the container, the sound sensor is fixed to the inner surface of the container by adhesive.
The sound recording device according to claim 1, wherein, when the sound sensor is provided outside the container, a sensor cable hole for allowing a cable connecting the sound sensor and the sound recording unit to pass therethrough is formed in the container.
The sound recording device according to claim 2, wherein the container has a spherical shape with a first hemispherical part and a second hemispherical part, the sound sensor is provided inside the first hemispherical part of the container, and an exhaust valve for exhausting a gas inside the container outside the container is provided on the second hemispherical part of the container.
The sound recording device according to claim 4, wherein the sound sensor is provided at a position farthest from an opening of the first hemispherical part.
The sound recording device according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive is resin with an acoustic impedance of 1.5×10⁵ to 3.0×10⁶ g/cm²sec calculated by ρ×V from the density ρ of a medium and the sound speed V in the medium at a temperature of 15 to 25°C and atmospheric pressure in a range of 1013.25±50 hPa.
The sound recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a plurality of containers including a first container and a second container,
wherein cable holes for allowing an inter-container connection cable for connecting an electrical device in the first container with an electrical device in the second container to pass therethrough are formed in the first container and the second container.
The sound recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a mounting base provided inside the container,
wherein the mounting base includes

one or more container-fixed parts fixed to the container;

a storage device installation part having an installation surface on which the storage device is provided; and

a power supply device installation part having an installation surface on which the power supply device is provided.
The sound recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the container is made of glass.
The sound recording device according to claim 8, wherein the mounting base includes
the container-fixed part formed in a disk or ring shape; and

a support member fixed to the container-fixed part and configured to support the storage device installation part at a position away from the container-fixed part in a central axial direction of circular outer circumference of the container-fixed part.
An underwater probe comprising the sound recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.