GB1329404A - Underwater measuring and winch systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1329404 Winch casings HAGENUK 29 Feb 1972 [1 March 1971] 9362/72 Heading B8B [Also in Divisions B7 and G1] An electrically operated self contained underwater winch comprises a spherical buoyant casing 6 in which is mounted a winch drum 1, an electric motor 3 mounted in a watertight compartment in the casing 6, a watertight bearing 2 in transmission means between the motor 3 and the drum 1, and batteries 17 for energizing the motor 3, the winch drum 1 being mounted in the easing 6 with its axis displaced by substantially the radius of the drum from the centre of the spherical casing 6, such that the line of action of the force on the winch cable 4 running tangentially from the drum is substantially aligned with the centre of the casing 6, whereby the drum does not exert any tipping movement on the winch casing 6. The batteries 17 are mounted in a cylindrical annular housing 14 secured to the underside of the spherical casing 6 and the whole assembly is attached by a cable 10 to a base anchor, an acoustic release device being placed in the cable 10 between the base anchor and the assembly. The winch cable 4 is payed out to permit one or more buoyant measuring probes thereon to float up from the casing 6, each probe having sensors extending at 45‹ to each other, from a spherical top to the probe to measure various oceanographic parameters. The probe uppermost on the cable 4 generally houses the electronic equipment for measurement and control of the winch 1, to facilitate servicing of such equipment. 'Further sensors may be fitted to the spherical housing 6. Power is supplied from the batteries 17 to the probes through slip rings 16 and watertight bearing 2 to conductors running inside the winch cable 4. The measured data is transmitted from the probe to the casing 6 through steel armouring of the cable 4 which is surrounded by a plastic sheath, the seawater acting as a return conductor to the probe. Each probe comprises a fixed buoyancy section and a variable buoyancy section, the latter comprising a volume of gas insoluble in water and communicating with the water through a magnetically operated valve controlled by pre-set conditions, the gas volume being decreased by compression as the probe lowers through the water, whereby the buoyancy is reduced to relieve the load on the winch.