JP5227829B2 - Underwater equipment with buoyancy adjustment device and underwater equipment with buoyancy adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a buoyancy adjusting device for an underwater device handled by a diver who performs diving work, and an underwater device to which the buoyancy adjusting device is attached.

  For example, when a submarine cable is damaged and becomes unusable and repair is required, a diver first needs to dive into the seabed and cut the submarine cable at the damaged part. For cutting the submarine cable, a guillotine-type cutting machine that operates hydraulically is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The submarine cable cutting machine described in Patent Document 1 is a fairly large one that is operated from the ship, but the diver that the diver handles in the water is a small one that has only a cutting function. The diver moves the cutting machine that has been lowered from the work boat to the seabed to the seabed cable cutting position and sets it so that the seabed cable can be cut. After that, the hydraulic pressure is supplied from the ship and the cable is cut.

JP 2001-352633 A

  Cable cutters used underwater are designed to be compact so that divers can handle them by hand. However, cutting a submarine cable with iron wire armor requires a powerful cutting machine, and the weight of the cutting machine is about 70 kg (ground weight). The operation of moving such a heavy cutting machine on the seabed or setting it on the seabed cable places a heavy burden on the diver and increases the underwater work time.

  Such a problem is not limited to the submarine cable cutting machine, and is common to underwater equipment (for example, an underwater drill or an underwater breaker) that is relatively heavy and handled by a diver underwater.

  An object of the present invention is to attach a buoyancy adjusting device capable of adjusting the buoyancy of a device used underwater so that the diver can easily use the device in order to reduce the burden on a diver who performs underwater work. The purpose is to provide equipment for underwater use.

A buoyancy adjustment device for an underwater device according to the present invention includes a cylindrical container having end walls at both ends, and is accommodated in the cylindrical container so as to be movable in the axial direction, and partitions the cylindrical container into an air chamber and a submerged chamber A circular partition plate, a screw shaft penetrating through the center of the partition plate and screwed to the partition plate, both ends of which are rotatably supported by both end wall surfaces of the cylindrical container, and provided outside the cylindrical container A handle that rotates the screw shaft, a high-pressure air cylinder that supplies air to the air chamber in the cylindrical container via a switching valve, and an attachment portion for an underwater device provided outside the cylindrical container,
The end wall on the immersion chamber side of the cylindrical container is formed with an opening for communicating the immersion chamber with the water,
By attaching a device used underwater to the mounting portion, supplying air from the high-pressure air cylinder to the air chamber underwater, and rotating the screw shaft with the handle to move the partition plate, thereby adjusting the volume of the air chamber It is characterized by adjusting buoyancy.

  The buoyancy adjusting device for an underwater device according to the present invention is capable of discharging the air inside the air chamber to the outside of the cylindrical container, but includes a check valve that prevents water outside the cylindrical container from entering the air chamber. It is preferable.

  The underwater use device with a buoyancy adjustment device according to the present invention is characterized in that the buoyancy adjustment device configured as described above is attached to the underwater use device.

  In the underwater use device with a buoyancy adjustment device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the buoyancy adjustment device is attached to the position of the center of gravity of the underwater use device in order to facilitate handling of the underwater use device.

  Further, in the underwater use device with a buoyancy adjustment device according to the present invention, it is easy to handle the underwater use device because the underwater use device is rotatably supported by a bearing fixed to a mounting portion of the buoyancy adjustment device. It is further preferable to do so.

  According to the present invention, since the diver can adjust the buoyancy by adjusting the volume of the air chamber in the cylindrical container by operating the handle of the buoyancy adjusting device in the water, the diver uses the underwater weight of the underwater equipment. Adjustment can be made easily, the underwater work load can be reduced, and the underwater work can be performed efficiently.

The principal part incision front view which shows one Example of the underwater use apparatus with a buoyancy adjustment apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A) is the AA arrow line view of FIG. 1, (B) is the BB arrow line view of FIG.

  1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a cutting machine (an example of equipment used underwater) for cutting the submarine cable C, and 3 is a buoyancy adjusting device attached to the cutting machine 1.

  The submarine cable cutting machine 1 accommodates the submarine cable C between the receiving-side cutting blade 5 and the pushing-side cutting blade 7 and advances the pushing-side cutting blade 7 toward the receiving-side cutting blade 5 by the hydraulic cylinder 9. The submarine cable C is sheared. A pair of links 11A and 11B are attached to both sides of the receiving-side cutting blade 5 in parallel. The base ends of the links 11A and 11B are respectively connected to the tip ends of guide rails 13A and 13B provided on both sides of the push-side cutting blade 7 by a fixed shaft 15A and a lock pin 15B. When the lock pin 15B is pulled out, the receiving-side cutting blade 5 is rotatable like a two-dot chain line about the fixed shaft 15A.

  When the submarine cable C is accommodated between the two cutting blades 5 and 7, the lock pin 15B is pulled out, the receiving-side cutting blade 5 is rotated, and the push-side cutting blade 7 is opposed to the submarine cable C. The receiving cutting blade 5 is returned to the original position, and the lock pin 15B is inserted. In this state, hydraulic pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 9 from the ship by the hydraulic hose 17, the push-side cutting blade 7 is advanced, and the submarine cable C is cut. Reference numeral 19 denotes an operation lever that switches between forward and backward movements of the push-side cutting blade 7, and 21 denotes a handle that a diver holds to move the cutting machine 1. The configuration of the above submarine cable cutting machine 1 is substantially the same as that conventionally used.

  On the other hand, the buoyancy adjusting device 3 includes a cylindrical container 23 having end face walls 23a and 23b at both ends, and a circular partition plate 25 accommodated in the cylindrical container 23 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The partition plate 25 partitions the inside of the cylindrical container 23 into an air chamber 27 and a submerged chamber 29. A seal ring 31 is fitted in the groove on the outer peripheral surface of the partition plate 25, and airtightness and watertightness between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container 23 are maintained. In the center of the partition plate 25, threaded shafts 33 that are rotatably supported by both end surface walls 23 a and 23 b of the cylindrical container 23 pass through the center. The screw shaft 33 is screwed to the partition plate 25. The upper end portion of the screw shaft 33 passes through the air chamber side end wall 23a and protrudes out of the cylindrical container 23, and a handle 35 for rotating the screw shaft 33 is attached to the protruding portion. When the screw shaft 33 is rotated in one direction or the opposite direction by the handle 35, the partition plate 25 in the cylindrical container 23 can be moved upward or downward.

  Air can be supplied from a high-pressure air cylinder 36 to the air chamber 27 in the cylindrical container 23. The high pressure air cylinder 36 is attached to the end wall 23 a via a three-way switching valve 37. The high-pressure air cylinder 36 is filled with air having a pressure sufficiently higher than the water pressure of the seabed to be operated. The three-way switching valve 37 switches between a state in which air is supplied from the cylinder 36 to the air chamber 27, a state in which air is discharged from the air chamber 27 to the outside, and a state in which air circulation is interrupted. A check valve 39 is attached to the air discharge port of the three-way switching valve 37. The check valve 39 can discharge the air in the air chamber 27 to the outside of the cylindrical container 23, but functions to prevent water outside the cylindrical container 23 from entering the air chamber 27. Note that the check valve can be provided at a position different from that of the switching valve. In this case, the switching valve only needs to supply and shut off air.

  In addition, an opening 41 is formed in the end wall 23b of the cylindrical container 23 on the side of the immersion chamber so that the immersion chamber 29 communicates with the outside (underwater) of the cylindrical container 23. The immersion chamber 29 is filled with seawater. ing. Furthermore, the attachment part 43 of the cutting machine 1 is being fixed to the outer surface center part of the immersion chamber side end surface wall 23b. On the other hand, a bearing 45 is attached in advance to the outer periphery of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the cutting machine 1, and a fixed pedestal 47 protruding from a part of the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 45 is screwed to the attachment portion 43. It is fixed. As a result, the cutting machine 1 is rotatably supported by the bearing 45.

  The above is the overall configuration of the submarine cable cutting machine with a buoyancy adjustment device. This submarine cable cutting machine with a buoyancy adjustment device is submerged in the sea with the volume of the air chamber 27 sufficiently small on the work boat. When the diver reaches the bottom of the sea, the diver operates the three-way switching valve 37 to supply air from the high-pressure air cylinder 36 to the air chamber 27, while rotating the screw shaft 33 with the handle 35 and moving the partition plate 25 to move the air. The volume of the chamber 27 is increased. As a result, the buoyancy is increased and the underwater weight of the cutting machine 1 is reduced. Therefore, the diver is adjusted so as to be easily handled underwater. Thereafter, the diver moves the cutting machine 1 to the position of the submarine cable, sets the submarine cable C between the receiving-side cutting blade 5 and the push-side cutting blade 7, and performs a cutting operation on the submarine cable C. Since the cutting machine 1 receives buoyancy from the buoyancy adjustment device 3, it is easy to move and adjust the posture in water, and can perform work in water efficiently and in a short time.

  In order to facilitate the handling of the cutting machine 1 in water, it is preferable that the bearing 45 is attached at the center of gravity in the longitudinal direction of the cutting machine 1.

C: submarine cable 1: submarine cable cutting machine 3: buoyancy adjusting device 5: receiving side cutting blade 7: push side cutting blade 9: hydraulic cylinder 11A, 11B: link 13A, 13B: guide rail 15A: fixed shaft 15B: lock pin 17: Hydraulic hose 19: Operation lever 21: Handle 23: Cylindrical container 23a, 23b: End wall 25: Circular partition plate 27: Air chamber 29: Submerged chamber 31: Seal ring 33: Screw shaft 35: Handle 36: High pressure air cylinder 37: Three-way switching valve 39: Check valve 41: Opening 43: Mounting portion 45: Bearing 47: Fixed base

Claims (6)

A cylindrical container having end face walls at both ends;
A circular partition plate that is accommodated in the cylindrical container so as to be movable in the axial direction, and divides the cylindrical container into an air chamber and a submerged chamber,
A screw shaft that penetrates the center of the partition plate and is screw-coupled to the partition plate, and both ends of which are rotatably supported by the both end surface walls of the cylindrical container;
A handle for rotating the screw shaft provided outside the cylindrical container;
A high-pressure air cylinder for supplying air to the air chamber in the cylindrical container via a switching valve;
A mounting portion for an underwater device provided outside the cylindrical container;
The end wall on the immersion chamber side of the cylindrical container is formed with an opening for communicating the immersion chamber with the water,
By attaching a device used underwater to the mounting portion, supplying air from the high-pressure air cylinder to the air chamber underwater, and rotating the screw shaft with the handle to move the partition plate, thereby adjusting the volume of the air chamber A buoyancy adjustment device for an underwater device characterized by adjusting buoyancy.   The underwater use device according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve capable of discharging the air in the air chamber to the outside of the cylindrical container, but preventing water outside the cylindrical container from entering the air chamber. Buoyancy adjustment device.   An underwater-use device with a buoyancy adjustment device, wherein the buoyancy adjustment device according to claim 1 or 2 is attached to the underwater-use device.   The underwater use apparatus with a buoyancy adjustment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the buoyancy adjustment apparatus is attached to the position of the center of gravity of the underwater use apparatus.   The underwater use device with a buoyancy adjustment device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the underwater use device is rotatably supported by a bearing fixed to a mounting portion of the buoyancy adjustment device.   The underwater use device with a buoyancy adjusting device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the underwater use device is a submarine cable cutting machine.

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