JP6560012B2 - Window member and submersible - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a window member and a diving machine.

  Investigations in areas where the pressure is significantly different from the ground, such as the deep sea and outer space, are progressing year by year. For example, in deep sea research, the capacity of submersibles has been improved by the advancement of science and technology in various fields, and the depth of the deep sea where diving research can be conducted is also increasing. It is efficient to conduct a survey using a diving machine while a person boarded the diving machine and actually confirms the state of the area outside the diving machine (the deep sea). A window member (view window) is provided in the shell.

  Non-Patent Document 1 below shows an example of a viewing window provided in a diving machine. The window member (view window) shown in Non-Patent Document 1 has a thick partial conical shape so that it can withstand high pressure, and is made of methacrylic resin having low hardness so that it can follow the deformation of the shell. Has been.

Shozo Tashiro, “Challenging the Deep Sea”, Ocean and Earth Information Magazine Blue Earth, March-April 2008 issue [online], March 2008, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, [April 2015 22 days search], Internet <URL: http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/catalog/data/doc_catalog/media/be94_all.pdf>

  A conventional window member uses a low-hardness material such as methacrylic resin with a large thickness that can be deformed with pressure. However, when the hardness is low in this way, for example, when the sample collides with a structure on the seabed or when a sample collected by an operation error collides, a slight scratch may occur on the surface of the window member. Since stress tends to concentrate on this flaw, as the depth of submergence increases, that is, as the pressure increases, there is a greater possibility that the destruction of the window member will start from such a flaw. The present invention aims to solve such problems.

The present application is a window member that is installed in a shell that accommodates a person or a light receiving device therein, and is used to guide light incident from an external region having a pressure different from that of the inside to the person or the light receiving device, One or more sapphire made of sapphire, wherein the outer surface exposed to the external region is made up of the surface of the first member made of sapphire, and is placed on the surface opposite to the outer surface of the first member. A portion of the outer surface and the one or more second members, the inner surfaces being furthest away from the outer surface and projecting outward.
There is provided a window member characterized in that it has a spherical shape, an end portion connecting the outer surface and the inner surface is on the same plane, and is installed on the shell at the end portion .

A submersible that submerses underwater in a state in which a person or a light receiving device is accommodated therein, the shell having one or more holes in which the person or the light receiving device is accommodated, and the shell A submarine characterized by comprising the above-described window member disposed in the hole of the body is also provided .

  According to the present invention, the window member is hardly damaged even if the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the shell increases. Moreover, the submersible of this invention can suppress the crack etc. of the window member which generate | occur | produce when diving at a deep depth.

It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the structure of the diving machine which is one Embodiment of the diving machine of this invention. (A) is an enlarged front view around the window member 10 of the submersible 1, and (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing explaining other embodiment of a window member. (A), (b) is sectional drawing explaining other embodiment of a window member, respectively.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a diving machine 1 that is an embodiment of the diving machine of the present invention. A diving machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a window member 10 that is an embodiment of the window member of the present invention. 2A is an enlarged top view around the window member 10 of the submersible 1, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view.

The diving machine 1 is a diving machine that dives underwater in a state where a person (not shown) or a light receiving device (not shown) is housed therein, and the person or the light receiving device is housed therein. A shell body 2 (cockpit) provided with a hole portion 20 and a window member 10 disposed so as to close the hole portion 20 of the shell body 2. The window member 10 has at least an outer surface exposed to water. , The surface of the first member 12 made of sapphire. In this specification, sapphire refers to a single crystal mainly composed of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ). Further, in the present specification, when it is included as a “main component”, it specifically means that it is contained at least 50% by mass, preferably 70% by mass. It is preferable that the Al ₂ O ₃ purity (content) of sapphire of the first member 12 is 99% by mass or more from the viewpoint that scratches are less likely to be generated and cracks and chips are more reliably suppressed.

  The diving machine 1 is used for diving deeply in the water and investigating the state of the underwater such as so-called deep sea. The submersible 1 includes a shell body 2, a front sonar 5, a transceiver 6, an electric propulsion device 7, a projector 8, a battery system 9, and a power distribution unit 17. The diving machine 1 navigates by supplying the electric power of the battery system 10 to the electric propulsion device 7 through the power distribution unit 17. The diving machine 1 can communicate with the outside (for example, a mother ship on the ocean) by the transceiver 6.

  The shell 2 is made of, for example, a titanium alloy or the like, and has a shell shape having a spherical outer peripheral surface and a spherical inner peripheral surface as a whole. For example, a person who is a driver of the submersible 1 is accommodated (inboard) in the shell 2. The pilot housed in the shell 2 illuminates the front with the projector 8, confirms the obstacle in front with the front sonar 5, and refers to the outside view visible from the window member 10, while viewing the submarine 1. Use the camera or manipulator (not shown) to take pictures of the outside or take a sample outside. The window member 10 has a circular shape with a diameter of about 30 cm as viewed from above, and the total thickness is about 1 cm to 10 cm, which is relatively thin.

Since the shell body 2 can withstand a large water pressure in the deep sea, the overall shape of the outer peripheral surface is a sphere that is difficult to concentrate pressure on. The shell 2 is provided with a hole 20 and a window member 10 disposed in the hole 20 so that the operator can confirm the outside. A frame 22 made of, for example, metal, resin, or the like and having a relatively low Young's modulus compared to sapphire is installed at the edge of the opening of the hole 20. The window member 10 is disposed with its end abutting against the frame body 22 so as to close the hole 20. In the present embodiment, a ring-shaped seal ring member 26 having a lower Young's modulus than the window member 10 or the frame body 22, which is made of, for example, metal or resin, between the end portion of the window member 10 and the frame body 22. Are arranged. When the diving machine 1 dives deeply in the water, water pressure that presses the entire window member 10 against the frame 22 is applied to the window member 10. When the frame body 22 and the window member 10 are in direct contact with each other, for example, if there are minute convex portions on the surface of the frame body 22, stress is concentrated on the contact portion between the convex portion and the window member 10, and this There is also a possibility that cracks may start from the stress concentration portion. By providing the seal ring member 26 and adopting a configuration in which the seal ring member 26 is elastically deformed by the water pressure, it is possible to prevent a large pressure from being locally applied to the end of the window member 10.

  In the window member 10 of the present embodiment, the outer surface exposed at least in water is configured by the surface of the first member 12 made of sapphire, so the surface of the window member is very hard and hardly scratched. For this reason, since the concentration of water pressure on the scratches or the like is unlikely to occur, the window member is hardly damaged even when the diving machine 1 dives deeply into the water. In particular, work that is likely to come into contact with the sea floor or the wall surface, such as the work to get close to the sea floor or the trench wall and take samples of the sea floor or wall surface, while maintaining higher safety. Can do. Since the submersible 1 provided with the window member 10 can ensure a high safety margin in various operations underwater, the submersible 1 can be operated closer to the sea bottom or the wall surface at a deeper water depth than conventional.

  The window member 10 has a partially spherical shape whose outer surface (that is, the outer surface of the first member 12) is convex outward. Thereby, it is suppressed that water pressure concentrates on an outer surface locally, and the pressure | voltage resistance of the window member 10 is made high. Further, the window member 10 has a partially spherical shape in which the inner surface on the side opposite to the outer surface is convex outward. That is, the window member 10 has a spherical shape on both the outer surface and the inner surface. For example, when the operator brings his face close to the inner surface, the state of the outside of the window member 10 can be confirmed over a relatively wide range. . For example, a wide field of view can be secured even in a submersible such as an underwater explorer that is equipped with a light receiving device such as a camera and investigates underwater remotely.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the window member. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. For example, instead of maneuvering while observing the outside, it is not necessary to bring a face or a light receiving device close to a window member, such as a submersible that mainly monitors an external state mainly by an acoustic device such as sonar, as shown in FIG. In addition, the outer surface of the window member 10 may be, for example, flat instead of a partially spherical shape protruding outward, and the shape is not particularly limited.

  The window member 10 has one or more second members disposed so as to overlap the surface opposite to the outer surface of the first member 12 (that is, the inner surface). The second member may be made of the same material as that of the first member (ie, sapphire), or may be made of a material different from that of the first member. In the window member 10 of the present embodiment, the same shape as the first member 12, that is, the plate-like second member 14 whose outer surface and inner surface are both spherical is superimposed on the inner surface of the first member 12. Has been placed. In this way, by placing the second member 14 on the inner surface of the first member 12 having the outer surface exposed in water, the water pressure applied to the first member 12 is also distributed to the second member 14. As a result, the possibility that the first member 12 is cracked or the like can be reduced. Moreover, even if a crack etc. generate | occur | produce on the outer side of a window member, advancing of a crack can be stopped with the 1st member of the outermost surface, and it can suppress that it penetrates inside and water permeates. Even when the first member 12 is damaged in this manner, the second member 14 can prevent water and the like from entering, so that water and the like can be prevented more reliably from entering the inside of the shell 2.

  Moreover, in the window member 10 shown in FIG. 2, both the 1st member 12 and the 2nd member 14 consist of sapphire. Since the second member 14 is also made of sapphire in addition to the first member 12, even when the first member 12 is broken, at least the outer surface exposed in water is composed of the surface of the second member 14 made of sapphire. Therefore, the window member 10 is hardly broken due to scratches or the like generated on the outer surface.

In the above embodiment, although the window member 10 showed the example in which the 1st member 12 and the 1st 2nd member (2nd member 14) were piled up, the number of the 2nd members is not specifically limited, There are two or more. Also good. Even when there are a plurality of second members, each second member may be made of the same material as the first member (that is, sapphire), or all or some of the plurality of second members may be made of a material different from sapphire. Good. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating other embodiments of the window member. 4A and 4B, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As in another embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, another second member (second member 16) may be arranged in addition to the second member 14, or as shown in FIG. 4B. As described above, one or more second members (second members 18) may be further stacked. Moreover, the window member 10 may be comprised only by the 1st member 12, and the number of 2nd members is not specifically limited.

  The window member 10 of each embodiment described above is Young's modulus than sapphire, which is disposed between at least one of the first member 12 and the second member (second member 14) and between the second members. Has a small bonding layer 24. The bonding layer 24 is a layer that bonds the first member and the second member, or between the second members, and is made of, for example, a light-transmitting adhesive or the like whose main component is a resin or the like. What is necessary is just to leave the hardened | cured adhesive as the joining layer 24, for example, when joining between the 1st member 12 and the 2nd member, and between 2nd members using the adhesive agent which has an epoxy resin as a main component, for example. . Since the bonding layer 24 having a Young's modulus smaller than that of sapphire functions as a cushion that reduces external impact, damage to the window member 10 can be more reliably suppressed.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 (a), and 3 (b), the window member 10 has a first member 12, a second member 14, a second member 16, and a second member 18 that are all made of sapphire. Good. Since the second member 14, the second member 16, and the second member 18 are all made of sapphire in addition to the first member 12, even when the outer member is damaged, at least the outer surface exposed in water is made of sapphire. It is comprised by the surface of the member which becomes, and destruction of the window member 10 resulting from the damage | wound etc. which arose on the outer surface does not arise easily.

  2 to 4, at least one of the second members (second member 14, second member 16, and second member 18) may have a Young's modulus smaller than that of sapphire. For example, the second member may be composed of a member such as acryl or methacryl, whose Young's modulus is smaller than that of sapphire, or may be composed of a film-like member made of resin. In this case, since the second member having a Young's modulus smaller than that of sapphire has a cushion function for absorbing an impact, the first member 12 is hardly damaged.

  The sapphire member such as the first member 12 is a large sized material obtained by a known sapphire crystal growth technique such as the EFG method (Edge-defined Film-fed. Growth Method), the KP (kyropoulo) method, or the CZ (czochralski) method. The sapphire single crystal can be produced by machining. For example, the first member 12 having a spherical surface, the other second member, and the like can be manufactured by processing a large sapphire single crystal by milling using a so-called machining center device. Specifically, it can be produced by grinding while moving a so-called diamond electrodeposition tool with diamond abrasive grains attached while rotating. In addition, it is preferable to perform the annealing process which heats up the whole to 1650 degreeC after grinding, for example, and maintains the temperature of 1500-1800 degreeC, for example for about 3 hours. By this annealing process, internal stress remaining on the surface or inside can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the window member used for the submersible that the person enters and controls is described as an example. You may use for a spacecraft etc. Furthermore, it is not restricted to the apparatus used underwater, For example, it may be used for the apparatus used in space, for example, extremely low pressure, such as a spacecraft, an artificial satellite, and a spacecraft. The window member is not particularly limited as long as it is a window member that is installed in a shell that accommodates a person or a light receiving device and is used to guide light incident from an external region having a different pressure from the inside to the person or the light receiving device.

  While the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples. It goes without saying that various improvements and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Submersible 2 Shell 5 Pre-search sonar 6 Transmitter / receiver 7 Electric propulsion device 8 Floodlight 9 Battery system 10 Window member 12 First member 14, 16, 18 Second member 17 Power distribution part 20 Hole part 22 Frame body 24 Bonding layer

Claims (3)

A window member that is installed in a shell that houses a person or a light receiving device, and that is used to guide light incident from an external region having a pressure different from that of the inside to the person or the light receiving device,
At least the outer surface exposed to the outer region is composed of the surface of the first member made of sapphire ,
Having one or more second members made of sapphire, overlaid on a surface opposite to the outer surface of the first member,
Of the outer surface and the one or more second members, the inner surface furthest away from the outer surface is a partially spherical shape that is convex outward.
The window member characterized by the end part which connects the said outer surface and the said inner surface being on the same plane, and being installed in the said shell at the said end part . Wherein between the first member and the second member, and the second are arranged in at least one between the members to each other, according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a bonding layer Young's modulus is smaller than the sapphire Window member. A diving machine that submerses underwater with a person or a light receiving device contained therein,
A shell provided with one or more holes in which the person or the light receiving device is accommodated;
A diving machine comprising: the window member according to claim 1 or 2 disposed in the hole of the shell.

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