GB2488757A - Platform for supporting instrumentation - Google Patents

Platform for supporting instrumentation Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2488757A
GB2488757A GB201103487A GB201103487A GB2488757A GB 2488757 A GB2488757 A GB 2488757A GB 201103487 A GB201103487 A GB 201103487A GB 201103487 A GB201103487 A GB 201103487A GB 2488757 A GB2488757 A GB 2488757A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
platform
mass
centre
instrumentation
support platform
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB201103487A
Other versions
GB2488757B (en
GB201103487D0 (en
Inventor
Christopher Melville Germain
Andrew Philip Shanks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tidal Generation Ltd
Original Assignee
Tidal Generation Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tidal Generation Ltd filed Critical Tidal Generation Ltd
Priority to GB201103487A priority Critical patent/GB2488757B/en
Publication of GB201103487D0 publication Critical patent/GB201103487D0/en
Publication of GB2488757A publication Critical patent/GB2488757A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2488757B publication Critical patent/GB2488757B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon ; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
    • F16M11/02—Heads
    • F16M11/04—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
    • F16M11/06—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting
    • F16M11/12—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction
    • F16M11/121—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction constituted of several dependent joints
    • F16M11/123—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction constituted of several dependent joints the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/52—Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M13/00—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/56—Accessories
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M2200/00—Details of stands or supports
    • F16M2200/08—Foot or support base

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Details Of Measuring And Other Instruments (AREA)

Abstract

A support platform 1 for instrumentation 25 comprises a body portion 10 having a centreline and a centre of mass, a securing mount (24, Fig 4) for receiving instrumentation, and adapted to secure such received instrumentation to the support platform, and a lifting portion 22 arranged to provide a lifting location for the platform. The centreline does not coincide with the centre of mass, and the lifting portion is located substantially coincident with the centre of mass. The body portion may be formed from concrete and may be attached to a base portion 12.

Description

SUPPORT PLATFORMS
The present invention relates to support platforms, and in particular to a platform for supporting underwater instrumentation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Deploying instrumentation to an underwater surface, such as the seabed, is a complex and expensive operation. This is particularly the case when such instrumentation needs to be deployed to areas of high flow, such as when measuring tidal flow. High flow areas have relatively high water current velocities, which can damage or wash away instruments deployed in such areas.
Furthermore, existing deployment solutions suffer from the significant drawback that the platform itself can interfere with the instrumentation operation, particularly when the platform is deployed on an inclined surface. In order to overcome this drawback, some existing ADCP frames are designed such that the instrument is gimballed and the frame doesn't interfere. However, such designs require ground anchors (for example large weights and heavy chain upstream and downstream) to make sure they don't get washed away.
Replacing the frame with a solid concrete structure in which the instrument is centrally mounted, would mean that at least three lifting points would be required. Using more than one lifting point results in multiple remotely operated vehicle actions during deployment and retrieval operations, which add to the complexity and cost of such operation.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a platform that can address the drawbacks of existing solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support platform for instrumentation, the support platform comprising a body portion having a centreline and a centre of mass, a securing mount for receiving instrumentation, and adapted to secure such received instrumentation to the support platform, and a lifting portion arranged to provide a lifting location for the platform, wherein the centreline does not coincide with the centre of mass, and wherein the lifting portion is located substantially coincident with the centre of mass.
Such a platform may further comprise a base portion to which the body portion is attached.
The body portion preferably has features of shape that serve to define the location of the centre of mass of the platform. In one example, the body portion has a first end region having an inclined face and/or a slot defined therein, such that the first end region is of lower mass than a second, opposite, end region, thereby causing the centre of mass to be located toward the second end region relative to the centreline of the platform.
The securing mount can be provided with a rotatable mounting mechanism, or a gimbal mounting mechanism, to enable a measurement zone of an instrument located thereon to be directed in a desired direction relative to the platform.
In one example, the body portion is of concrete or similar material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure Ishows a perspective view of a support platform embodying the present invention; Figure 2 and 3 show plan and underside views of the platform of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the platform of Figure 1 in a substantially horizontal orientation; and Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the platform of Figure 1 in an inclined orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 to 3 illustrates a support platform I embodying one aspect of the present invention, and comprises a body portion 10 mounted on a base portion 12. The body portion defines a loading region 14 therein. The loading region 14 is an aperture that extends from an upper surface of the body portion 10 into the body portion 10 towards the base portion 12. In one example, the loading region is provided by an aperture that extends all the way through the body portion 10. As can be seen in Figure 2, the platform is provided with a lifting portion 22 which is located in the loading region 14. The lifting portion 22 provides a lifting point for the platform, as will be described in more detail below. Also located in the loading region 14 is an instrumentation mount 24 which is adapted for receiving a measuring instrument.
In the example shown in Figure 1, a first end region of the body portion 10 has an inclined face 16, and a slot 18 that extends into the first end region from the face 16.
The base portion 12 is provided with a number of feet 20. In this example, three feet 20 are provided, since this provides the platform with a stable engagement with a supporting surface, whether that be smooth or uneven.
Figure 4 illustrates the platform of Figures 1 to 3 in more detail in cross-sectional side view.
As described above, the platform includes a body portion 10 which is located on a base portion 12. The base portion 12 has feet 20 for engaging the supporting surface. A loading region 14 is provided in the body portion 10, and the loading region has a lower surface 15, formed by the upper surface of the base portion 12.
A lifting portion 22 is provided in the loading region 14, and is attached to the base portion 12. The lifting portion provides a lifting point for the platform, so that the platform can be lifted (in direction A) by suitable lifting equipment (not shown). A single lifting line is required, which, therefore, redues the number of remotely operated vehicle actions required.
The loading region 14 is also provided with an instrumentation mount 24, which is also located on the base portion 12. The mount 24 is adapted for receiving an instrumentation module 25. The instrumentation module 25 can be any appropriate module, and may, for example, have a measurement zone 26, as will be described in more detail below.
The platform has a centreline CL which is located at the physical centre of the platform, and a centre of mass which is located at the point at which the platform balances.
A first end region 17 of the platform has an inclined face 16 and a slot 18 that extend in to the body portion 10 from the face 16. The inclined face 16 and the slot 18 are arranged such that the centre of mass CM of the platform is located substantially coincident with the lifting portion 22. Such an arrangement means that the platform remains substantially horizontal when lifted using the lifting portion 22.
The inclined face 16 and the slot 18 effectively remove mass from the first end region 17 of the platform when compared to the second end region 19 of the platform, thereby moving the centre of mass CM of the platform in the direction of the second end region 19.
The lifting portion 22, and the centre of mass CM are spaced apart from the centreline CL of the platform, such that the centreline CL is not coincident with the centre on mass CM. Such an arrangement means that the lifting portion 22 does not interfere with the measurement zone 26 of the instrumentation 25 located on the mount 24 in the loading region 14. In addition, the skid overall is smaller and lighter than if the lifting portion were to be centred, since the body of the skid would then need to be larger to accommodate and balance the off centre instrument.
The mount 24 for the instrumentation 25 is preferably a rotatable, or gimbal, mount which allows the instrumentation 25 to be oriented such that the measurement zone 26 is aligned substantially vertically. When the platform is located on an inclined support surface, as illustrated in Figure 5, the mount enables the measurement zone 26 to remain substantially vertical. The location of the lifting portion 22 means that the measurement zone 26 is not interfered with when the platform is inclined.
Such a platform is particularly suited to deployment of underwater instrumentation on the bed of a body of water. In such a case it is not possible, or desirable, to remove the lifting portion from the platform to avoid interference with the measurement zone 26 of the instrumentation 25. Accordingly, the platform embodying the present invention enables deployment of instrumentation to inclined underwater surfaces.
The body portion 10 and base portion 12 are preferably of concrete or other fairly dense material that is straightforward to form. Using a relatively high density material provides a compact platform that still has sufficient mass for underwater deployment in high flow areas.
A compact platform is desirable so that it can be deployed from a smaller vessel.
Furthermore, concrete is a robust, water resistant material that enables the platform to be used and reused many times. The relative simplicity of the shape of the body and base portions 10 and 12 also means that embodiments of the present invention can provide cost effective platforms.
In one embodiment, the lifting portion 22 and/or the mount 25 are provided by readily available components, such as aluminium channel section. It is preferable that the components are non-ferrous in order to reduce any magnetic field interactions with the instrumentation. This is particularly the case when the instrumentation is an ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) unit. The instrumentation 25 can be such an ADCP unit, or could be any appropriate instrument such as a sonar unit, or a camera.

Claims (7)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A support platform for instrumentation, the support platform comprising a body portion having a centreline and a centre of mass, a securing mount for receiving instrumentation, and adapted to secure such received instrumentation to the support platform, and a lifting portion arranged to provide a lifting location for the platform, wherein the centreline does not coincide with the centre of mass, and wherein the lifting portion is located substantially coincident with the centre of mass.
  2. 2. A support platform as claimed in claim 1, comprising a base portion to which the body portion is attached.
  3. 3. A support platform as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the body portion has features of shape that serve to define the location of the centre of mass of the platform.
  4. 4. A support platform as claimed in claim 3, wherein the body portion has a first end region having an inclined face and/or a slot defined therein, such that the first end region is of lower mass than a second, opposite, end region of the platform, thereby causing the centre of mass to be located toward the second end region relative to the centreline of the platform.
  5. 5. A support platform as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing mount is provided with a rotatable mounting mechanism, or a gimbal mounting mechanism, to enable a measurement zone of an instrument located thereon to be directed in a desired direction relative to the platform.
  6. 6. A support platform as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is of concrete.
  7. 7. A support platform substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB201103487A 2011-03-01 2011-03-01 Support platforms Expired - Fee Related GB2488757B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201103487A GB2488757B (en) 2011-03-01 2011-03-01 Support platforms

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201103487A GB2488757B (en) 2011-03-01 2011-03-01 Support platforms

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201103487D0 GB201103487D0 (en) 2011-04-13
GB2488757A true GB2488757A (en) 2012-09-12
GB2488757B GB2488757B (en) 2013-07-31

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104155467A (en) * 2014-04-10 2014-11-19 长春工业大学 ADCP sensor underwater vertical adjustment device
CN106005318A (en) * 2016-06-21 2016-10-12 上海遨拓深水装备技术开发有限公司 Bathyscaph for detecting deep sea pipelines and working method of bathyscaph

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06298500A (en) * 1993-04-12 1994-10-25 Kazuko Chiba Automatic eccentric traverser
WO2007006156A1 (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-01-18 Innovative Technology Development Ltd. Paint container holder

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06298500A (en) * 1993-04-12 1994-10-25 Kazuko Chiba Automatic eccentric traverser
WO2007006156A1 (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-01-18 Innovative Technology Development Ltd. Paint container holder

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104155467A (en) * 2014-04-10 2014-11-19 长春工业大学 ADCP sensor underwater vertical adjustment device
CN106005318A (en) * 2016-06-21 2016-10-12 上海遨拓深水装备技术开发有限公司 Bathyscaph for detecting deep sea pipelines and working method of bathyscaph

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2488757B (en) 2013-07-31
GB201103487D0 (en) 2011-04-13

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20170301