JP2543347B2 - Underwater observation device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an underwater observation device used for sightseeing or observation of a shallow sea layer.

(Prior Art) The shallow depth of the sea not only attracts attention as a new tourism resource, but is also utilized for aquaculture of marine products. When sightseeing or observing such shallow water, there is a method in which an observation window is provided at the bottom of a watercraft and the water is looked into the observation window. According to this method, anyone can easily and safely observe underwater, but the observation can only be performed from a substantially water surface position, and the purpose of sightseeing or observation cannot be sufficiently achieved.

The underwater observation apparatus of the present invention relates to an underwater observation apparatus capable of sightseeing or observation from underwater.

When sightseeing or observing a relatively shallow sea layer from the water,
In the past, diving equipment was worn while diving, or sightseeing or observation was carried out using a submersible boat that could freely dive underwater. However, in the case of the former, there is a drawback that no one can use it easily because it requires diving technique and physical strength, and it is dangerous. In the latter case, there is a risk that the submarine will sink to the bottom of the sea when it breaks down, which makes rescue very difficult. However, there is a drawback that the lifting work is complicated and the hoisting work is complicated, and that getting on and off can be done only at sea with the submersible in a levitating state, and there is a drawback in getting on and off.

(Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention) The present invention is an underwater observing device that solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, that is, a device for sightseeing or observing a shallow sea layer from underwater without wearing diving equipment. Even if the underwater observing device breaks down, there is no risk that the submersible crew will sink to the bottom of the sea, and it will be possible to move from sea to land or from land to sea without lifting work. The aim is to provide a new underwater observation device that allows passengers to get on and off the land.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the underwater observing device of the present invention is an underwater observation apparatus which is a submersible main body having wheels or crawlers for traveling on the ground or under the sea on its outer lower portion. In addition, the submersible body having a watertight hatch that allows an occupant to get inside, the float having sufficient buoyancy to suspend and support the submerged body in a submerged state, and between the submersible body and the float. And a settling depth control device that controls the settling depth of the diving part body when the diving part body sinks,
The float part is configured to be mounted on the diving part body when the diving part body travels on land.

(Operation) According to the above-mentioned configuration, since the occupant, that is, the main body of the diving section on which the tourist or the observer boarded is suspended and supported by the float section in the floating state via the subsidence depth control device at the time of the subsidence. Even if the buoyancy adjustment mechanism of the submersible body fails, the submersible body will not sink to the sea floor. In addition, since it is possible to move from sea to land or from land to sea by using the wheels or crawlers provided on the outer lower part of the body of the diving unit, it is possible to move from sea to land or from land to sea. It is not necessary, and the occupant can get on and off the main body of the diving section on land.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the underwater observation device of the present invention is used for underwater sightseeing in which more than a dozen tourists can board will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4, A shows an underwater observation apparatus according to the present invention, which is composed of a submersible body 1, a float 2, and a sinking depth regulating device 3. Diving unit body 1
Is an occupant riding section 4 formed in a long tube in the front-rear direction, a weight 5 for adjusting buoyancy provided along the front-rear direction below the outer side of the occupant riding section 4, and an outer side of the occupant riding section 4. It is composed of a pair of left and right ballast tanks 6 arranged along the left and right positions of the weight 5. The ballast tank 6 accommodates the air bag 8 in a non-watertight tubular body 7 and supplies the compressed air to the air bag 8 to expand the air bag 8 so that the tube body 7 is expanded. The seawater in the pipe body 7 is increased by increasing the buoyancy of the ballast tank 7 and by discharging the air in the air purse 8.
Seawater is injected into the inside of the ballast tank 7, thereby reducing the buoyancy of the ballast tank 7. The weight of the buoyancy adjusting weight 5 is adjusted so that the submersible body 1 sinks when seawater is poured into the ballast tank 7 and floats when seawater is discharged from the ballast tank 7. A watertight hatch 9 for occupants (in this case, tourists and pilots) to enter is provided on the water surface of the occupant boarding section 4 when the dive section main body 1 floats. Reference numeral 10 is an observation window provided on the left and right walls and the front wall of the occupant boarding section 4 of the submersible body 1. Inside the crew boarding section 4, there is a central passageway.
Seats 12 for tourists are provided in the left and right positions narrowing 11 and a seat 46 for the driver is provided in the front position (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In Figure 4, 13
Is a stairway connecting the watertight hatch 9 to the central passage 11, 14 is an electric motor for driving a screw 15, 16 is a rudder, 17 is a battery for driving the electric motor, and 18 is a compressed air cylinder for emergency, which will be described later. It is used when the system or the compressed air supply system to the ballast tank 6 fails. Reference numeral 49 is a pair of left and right wheels provided in the front direction on the outer lower side of the diving body 1, and 50 is a pair of left and right wheels provided in the rear direction on the lower outer side of the diving body 1. The wheels 49 and 50 are each driven by a hydraulic motor. In particular, the pair of left and right wheels 49 can be steered by hydraulic pressure. Driving of the wheels 49.50 and steering of the wheels 49 are controlled by a hydraulic control device provided in the cockpit 46 of the submersible body 1.

The float unit 2 includes a pair of left and right floats 19, 19,
A connecting beam 2 that connects the pair of left and right floats 19 and 19 in a juxtaposed state on the water surface at a distance equal to the lateral width of the submersible body 1.
It consists of 0, 21, 22, 23. The connecting beams 20, 21, and 22 respectively connect the front part, the central part front direction, and the central part rear direction of the pair of left and right floats 19, 19 in an arch shape, and the connecting beam 23 forms a pair of left and right floats 19. , 19 are connected to the rear part, and the upper side surface is formed on the floor surface. 24, float 19
A power unit including an oil pressure generating device for motive power of the internal combustion engine arranged above, an air compressor and a generator, and 25 is a blower driven by electric power generated by the drive unit 24. 26
Is the sea cockpit.

Next, the sedimentation depth regulation device 3 will be described. The sinking depth regulating device is interposed between the float portion 2 and the diving portion main body 1 to regulate the sinking depth of the diving portion main body 1 when the diving portion main body 1 sinks. In the present embodiment, Below the connecting beam 21 in the float part 2 and between the brackets 28 provided on the upper part of the center of the occupant riding part 4 in the submersible part body 1, and below the connecting beam 22 in the float part 2. The rear link mechanism 31 is provided between the bracket 30 and the bracket 30 provided on the rear side of the occupant riding section 4 of the submersible body 1. The front link mechanism 29 includes a pair of left and right rod members 3 each having one end pivotally connected to the lower side of the connecting beam 21.
An upper link portion 34 provided with 2, 33, one end of each of which is pivotally connected to the bracket 28 and the other end thereof is the upper link portion 34.
And a lower link portion 37 provided with a pair of left and right rod members 35 and 36 pivotally connected to the rod members 32 and 33. Further, the rear link mechanism 31 includes an upper link portion 40 including a pair of left and right rod members 38 and 39 each having one end pivotally connected to the lower side of the connecting beam 22.
And a lower link portion 43 provided with a pair of left and right rod members 41 and 42 each having one end pivotally connected to the bracket 30 and the other end pivotally connected to the rod members 38 and 39 of the upper link portion 40. I am configuring. The upper link portion 34 of the link mechanism 29 and the upper link portion 40 of the rear link mechanism 31, and the lower link portion 37 of the front link mechanism 29 and the lower link portion 43 of the rear link mechanism 31 are configured to have the same length, respectively. Further, the distance between the pivotal support portion of the connecting beam 21 and the pivotal support portion of the connecting beam 22 and the distance between the brackets 28 and 30 are set to the same distance D. 44
Maintains the distance D between the pivotal support portions of the upper link portion 34 and the lower link portion 37 in the front link mechanism 29 and the pivotal support portions of the upper link portion 40 and the lower link portion 43 in the rear link mechanism 31. It is continuous. According to the sedimentation depth regulating device 3 configured in this way, the submersible body 1 is made into the float 2
Floating between the left and right floats 19 and 19 (1st
The horizontal posture of the submersible part body 1 is maintained during the subsidence or ascent of the diving part main body 1 between the submerged part main body 1 and the submerged part main body 1 (the state shown in FIG. 4). Further, since the pair of left and right rod members 32 and 33, 35 and 36, 38 and 39, and 41 and 42 are connected to each other such that their relative positions do not change, the floating of the submersible body 1 The position is left and right float 19,19
It is restricted to a predetermined position between the submersible body 1
It is avoided that this collides with the floats 19, 19 of the float portion 2 when the surface of the float floats.

Reference numeral 51 is a bracket which is provided in the front direction of the left and right floats 9, 9 of the float portion 2 and which engages with the upper side of the diving portion body 1 when the diving portion body 1 floats. Reference numeral 52 is a bracket which is provided in the rearward direction of the floats 9, 9 on the left and right of the float portion 2 and which engages with the upper side of the diving portion body 1 when the diving portion body 1 floats. The submersible body 1 has wheels 49 and
When traveling on land with 50, these brackets 51 and
The float portion 2 is placed on the diving portion main body 1 via 52.

In the case of the present embodiment, the front link mechanism 29 functioning as a part of the subsidence depth control device 3 is used as an air supply / exhaust path to the occupant riding section 4 in the submersible section body 1. ing. That is, a pair of left and right rod members 33, 32 and 3 of the upper link portion 34 and the lower link portion 37 of the front link mechanism 29.
6, 35 are each constituted by a hollow tube, and the rod members 32, 35, 33
Each of the pivots 36 and 36 is formed in a rotary joint to allow air to flow. Also, the rod member 35 and the bracket
28 pivotal support and the connection between the rod member 36 and the bracket 28,
The rotary joint is formed so that air can flow into and out of the occupant riding section 4 through the hollow tubes of the rod members 35 and 36. The pivotal support of the rod member 32 to the connecting beam 21 is also formed as a rotary joint so that air is blown from the blower 25 into the hollow tube of the rod member 32. The hollow tube of the rod member 33 is open to the atmosphere at the pivotal support for the connecting beam 21. With such a configuration, fresh air is sent from the blower 25 through the rod member 32 and the rod member 35 into the occupant riding section 4 of the dive section main body 1, and the air spilled from inside the occupant riding section 4 is blown out by the rod. It is possible to release to the atmosphere through the member 36 and the rod member 33. However, it is not an essential part of the present invention that the sinking depth regulating device 3 is also used as the air supply / discharge path for the occupant riding section 4. Needless to say, air may be supplied to and discharged from the occupant boarding section by using a separate hose.

Although not shown, the rear link mechanism 31 of the sinking depth regulating device 3 includes a pipe for sending pressure oil, compressed air, and electric power from the power unit 24 provided in the float 2 to the submersible body 1. Transmission cables are installed alongside. The pressure oil is sent to the hydraulic motors for driving the wheels 49 and 50 via the hydraulic control device provided in the cockpit 46 of the passenger riding section 4, and the compressed air is compressed air.
The ballast tank 6 can be supplied to the ballast tank 6 through a valve provided in the cockpit 46, and electric power is used for lighting or the like. Further, the rear link mechanism 31 of the sinking depth regulation device 3 is provided with a communication cable for communicating between the maritime pilot seat 26 and the pilot seat 46 of the submersible body 1.

 Reference numeral 45 is a propulsion unit provided at the rear of the float unit 2.

Although not shown, a releasable connecting device for fixing the dive portion main body 1 in a floating state is provided between the connecting beams 20 and 22 in the dive portion main body 1 and the float portion 2. The connection prevents the dive part main body 1 and the float part 2 from relatively moving up and down when the dive part main body 1 rises and sails or when an occupant gets into the dive part main body 1.

 Next, the operation will be described.

When the underwater observing apparatus A is on land, it can travel on land by means of wheels 49 and 50 provided on the lower outside of the submersible body 1. At this time, the float part 2 is mounted on the diving part body 2. The occupant gets on and off the submersible body 1 in this state. Underwater observation device A after the crew boarded
Run along the coast slope to enter the sea. Then, the operator of the maritime pilot seat 26 uses the propulsion unit 45 to move the underwater observation apparatus A to the destination. Next, the air in the ballast tank 9 is evacuated and the submersible body 1 is allowed to settle (state of FIG. 4),
In this state, the pilot who got on the dive unit main body 1 drives the screw 15 by the electric motor 14 and operates the rudder 16,
The underwater observing device A is moved to an arbitrary place so that tourists can go underwater. It goes without saying that the operator in the cockpit 26 of the float part 2 and the operator of the dive part body 1 avoid danger while communicating with each other when the dive part body 1 is in a sinking state.

To levitate the submersible body 1 and move it to the land, reverse the above operation.

The subsidence depth of the submersible body 1 never exceeds the depth allowed by the subsidence depth control device 3. So, for example,
Even if the buoyancy adjusting mechanism including the ballast tank 6 of the submersible body 1 fails, the submersible body 1 does not sink to the bottom of the sea and can be rescued relatively easily.

Of course, if it is necessary for passengers to get on and off the submersible body 1,
It can be done at sea.

Although the sinking depth regulating device 3 has a link structure in the above embodiment, it goes without saying that a wire rope or the like may be used.

Further, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 4, a winch device 47 is provided on the connecting beam 20 of the float part 2, and the rope end of the wire rope 48 drawn from this is connected to the diving part body 1 to This winch device when the buoyancy adjustment mechanism fails
If the diving unit body 1 is pulled up by 47, rescue can be performed very easily. In this case, the winch device 47 is configured to be remotely controllable from the cockpit 46 of the diving unit body 1, and the depth of the diving unit body 1 is adjusted when the diving unit body 1 is settled down and underwater sightseeing is performed. By doing so, the submersible body 1
Since the depth adjustment of the diving unit body 1 can be performed more quickly in the cockpit 46 than the depth adjustment by the ballast tank 6, it is possible to quickly perform the operation of avoiding a reef during underwater sightseeing.

Further, in the above embodiment, the wheels 49 and 50 can of course be crawlers.

As described above, the embodiment in which the underwater observation device of the present invention is implemented for sightseeing by more than ten people has been described. Of course, this may be used for observation of cultured fish and shellfish.

(Effects) In any case, the underwater observing device according to the present invention is capable of sightseeing or observing a shallow sea layer from the water without wearing diving equipment, but should the buoyancy adjustment mechanism of the diving unit main body fail. Even so, the body of the submersible is suspended in the float by the subsidence depth control device and is maintained in the shallow sea layer without sinking to the sea bottom, so that it can be rescued easily and undersea sightseeing or observation can be performed very safely. Moreover, since it is possible to move by itself from land to sea or from sea to land without the need for a lifting device, inspection and maintenance and passengers can get on and off on land.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of an underwater observation apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X of FIG. 1, and FIG. Underwater observation device; A, float part; 2, sinking depth control device 3, wheels; 49, 50

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A submersible body having a wheel or a crawler for traveling on the ground or under the sea on its outer lower part, which has an observation window and a watertight hatch for letting an occupant into the interior, and a submersible in a submerged state. The float part with sufficient buoyancy to suspend and carry the sub body in water, and the settling depth that is interposed between the sub body and the float part and that regulates the settling depth of the sub body when the sub body is settled. An underwater observing device, comprising a regulating device, wherein the float part is configured to be mounted on the diving part body when the diving part body travels on land.