JP6986364B2 - Water surface distance measuring machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a water surface distance measuring device.

Vessels sailing on the water surface and structures built on the water surface may be equipped with a water level distance measuring device such as a wave height meter for grasping the wave state of the water surface and a water level gauge for grasping the water level. be. Some water surface distance measuring instruments are provided with an antenna unit that irradiates radio waves toward a predetermined area on the water surface and receives radio waves (reflected waves) reflected on the water surface. In this type of water surface distance measuring device, the wave height (wave height), water level, etc. can be measured by the antenna unit.
Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a Doppler radar type wave height meter using microwaves.

Akio Yasuda, Yasufumi Kanai, Susumu Kuwashima, "Development of Simple Wave Height Meter for Marines Using Microwaves", Proceedings of the Japan Voyage Society, February 1982, No. 66, p.31-38

By the way, when the wave condition of the water surface is severe or the sailing speed of the ship is fast, the strong impact of the wave acts on the antenna part of the water surface distance measuring device, and the antenna part may be damaged or damaged. There is.
Conventionally, in order to protect the antenna portion from the impact of waves, it has been considered to cover the antenna portion with a radome made of glass fiber. However, radomes are very expensive and are not preferred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water surface distance measuring device capable of inexpensively protecting from a strong impact of a wave.

One aspect of the present invention is a tubular shape that is attached to a main body portion that is arranged at intervals with respect to the water surface and a facing surface of the main body portion that faces the water surface and extends from the facing surface toward the water surface. The body is provided , the main body is provided with an antenna portion that irradiates radio waves from the facing surface toward the water surface, and receives the radio waves reflected on the water surface, and the tubular body is the cylinder. It is arranged so as to surround the antenna portion when viewed from the axial direction of the shape, and the length dimension of the tubular body in the axial direction is longer than the inner diameter dimension of the tubular body, and has impact resistance. The tubular body is provided with a reinforcing plate arranged so as to be overlapped on the facing surface of the main body portion, and the tubular body is a water surface distance measuring machine attached to the facing surface of the main body portion via the reinforcing plate.

In the water surface distance measuring machine having the above configuration, when the wave (water) rising toward the facing surface of the main body enters the inside of the tubular body, the air inside the tubular body enters the inside of the tubular body. Can be compressed with (water). Therefore, the energy of the rising wave is consumed and weakened as energy for compressing the air inside the cylinder. As a result, the impact of the wave transmitted to the main body can be weakened. That is, it is possible to protect the main body from the strong impact of waves. In addition, the tubular body can be manufactured at a lower cost than the radome.

Further, in the water surface distance measuring device, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body may have water repellency.

Further, in the water surface distance measuring machine, a gap may be formed between the tubular body and the main body portion, and the internal space of the tubular body may be connected to the outside of the tubular body through the gap. ..

According to the present invention, it is possible to inexpensively protect the main body of the water surface distance measuring machine from the strong impact of waves.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example which provided the water surface distance measuring machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention on a ship. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the water surface distance measuring machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the water surface distance measuring machine which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The water surface distance measuring device according to the present embodiment is a wave height meter for grasping a wave state. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment includes a main body portion 2 and a tubular body 3.

The main body 2 is arranged at intervals with respect to the water surface WS. The main body 2 may be provided on, for example, a structure built on the water surface WS, but in the present embodiment, it is provided on the ship 100 navigating on the water surface WS. In FIG. 1, the main body 2 is attached to a portion of a support member 102 projecting from an upper portion (for example, a deck) of a hull 101 of a ship 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. The main body 2 may be provided, for example, at a portion (side bridge) of the bridge (bridge) provided on the hull 101, which projects from the hull 101.

The main body 2 has a function of measuring the water level of the water surface WS and the height of the wave (wave height). Specifically, the main body portion 2 of the present embodiment includes an antenna portion 11. The antenna unit 11 irradiates radio waves from the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 facing the water surface WS toward the water surface WS, and receives radio waves reflected on the water surface WS (hereinafter, referred to as reflected waves). When the antenna unit 11 receives the reflected wave, the water level and wave height of the water surface WS can be measured. The specific configuration of the antenna unit 11 may be arbitrary, such as a Doppler radar using microwaves.

Further, the main body portion 2 of the present embodiment includes a case 12 for accommodating the antenna portion 11. The case 12 constitutes a facing surface 2a of the main body 2. It is preferable that at least the portion of the case 12 forming the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2 has a property of transmitting the radio wave emitted from the antenna portion 11 and the reflected wave from the water surface WS. In the illustrated example, the antenna portion 11 is in contact with the portion of the case 12 forming the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2, but it may not be in contact with the portion 12, for example.

The tubular body 3 is attached to the facing surface 2a of the main body 2, and extends from the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 toward the water surface WS.
Specifically, the tubular body 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape in which both ends in the axial direction are open. The tubular body 3 is attached to the main body portion 2 so that the first opening 3A of the tubular body 3 is covered by the main body portion 2. The second opening 3B of the tubular body 3 is located closer to the water surface WS than the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2 and faces the water surface WS side. The axis A1 of the tubular body 3 may be curved, for example, but in the present embodiment, it extends linearly. The axis A1 of the tubular body 3 may be inclined with respect to the normal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) of the facing surface 2a of the main body 2, for example, but in the present embodiment, the axis A1 may be inclined in the normal direction of the facing surface 2a. On the other hand, it is not tilted and is parallel.

The shape of the cylindrical body 3 viewed from the axial direction (the shape of the tubular body 3 orthogonal to the axis A1) may be arbitrary such as a polygonal shape, a circular shape, and an elliptical shape.
The size of the cylindrical body 3 orthogonal to the axis A1 (particularly the size inside the tubular body 3) may change, for example, in the axial direction of the tubular body 3. Specifically, the tubular body 3 may be formed in a tapered shape that becomes smaller from the first opening 3A to the second opening 3B, for example. Further, the tubular body 3 may be formed in a shape that increases from the first opening 3A to the second opening 3B, for example. In the present embodiment, the size of the tubular body 3 orthogonal to the axis A1 does not change in the axial direction of the tubular body 3.

The relationship between the length dimension l of the tubular body 3 in the axial direction and the inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3 may be arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the length dimension l of the tubular body 3 is longer than the inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3. The inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3 may be, for example, the inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3 in the second opening 3B of the tubular body 3 located away from the main body 2. Further, when the shape of the tubular body 3 seen from the axial direction is a polygonal shape or an elliptical shape, for example, the longest diagonal line or inner diameter (major diameter) is adopted as the inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3. Alternatively, for example, the shortest diagonal or inner diameter (minor diameter) dimension may be adopted.

The tubular body 3 of the present embodiment is arranged so as to surround the antenna portion 11 of the main body portion 2 when viewed from the axial direction of the tubular body 3. Specifically, the tubular body 3 is arranged so that the entire antenna portion 11 is located inside the edge of the first opening 3A of the tubular body 3 when viewed from the axial direction of the tubular body 3. Further, in the tubular body 3 of the present embodiment, the entire antenna portion 11 is arranged so as to be located inside the edge of the second opening 3B of the tubular body 3 when viewed from the axial direction of the tubular body 3. ..

The tubular body 3 may be directly attached to the facing surface 2a of the main body 2, for example, but in the present embodiment, it is attached to the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 via the reinforcing plate 4. That is, the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment has impact resistance and includes a reinforcing plate 4 which is arranged so as to be overlapped with the facing surface 2a of the main body 2. The reinforcing plate 4 may have higher impact resistance than, for example, the main body 2 (particularly the case 12). Further, the reinforcing plate 4 may have a property of transmitting radio waves emitted from the antenna portion 11 and reflected waves from the water surface WS. The material constituting the reinforcing plate 4 may be arbitrary, but in the present embodiment, it is polycarbonate.

Further, in the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the tubular body 3 is attached to the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2 without a gap. Specifically, the tubular body 3 is attached to the reinforcing plate 4 without a gap. In other words, the first opening 3A of the tubular body 3 is closed by the reinforcing plate 4. Therefore, the internal space of the tubular body 3 is connected to the outside of the tubular body 3 only through the second opening 3B.

Further, in the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3 has water repellency. For example, the material itself constituting the tubular body 3 may have water repellency, but in the present embodiment, a water-repellent paint (not shown) is applied to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3. .. For example, similarly to the tubular body 3, the surface of the main body portion 2 and the reinforcing plate 4 facing the inside of the tubular body 3 may also have water repellency.

Further, the tubular body 3 of the present embodiment has a property of reflecting or absorbing radio waves and reflected waves emitted from the antenna unit 11. The constituent material of the tubular body 3 may be arbitrary, but may be a metal material such as aluminum.

As described above, according to the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the tubular body 3 is provided so as to extend from the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2, so that the main body portion 2 of the wave height meter 1 can be subjected to waves. It can be protected from strong impact. Hereinafter, this point will be specifically described.
In the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, when a wave (water) rising toward the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 enters the inside of the cylindrical body 3 so as to block the second opening 3B of the cylindrical body 3. Is compressed by the wave (water) in which the air inside the cylindrical body 3 has entered the inside of the tubular body 3. Therefore, the energy of the rising wave is consumed and weakened as the energy for compressing the air inside the tubular body 3. As a result, the impact of the wave transmitted to the main body 2 can be weakened. In addition, it is possible to effectively suppress the arrival of waves on the main body 2. That is, it is possible to protect the main body 2 from the strong impact of waves.
Further, the tubular body 3 can be manufactured at a lower cost as compared with a conventional radome. Therefore, according to the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the main body 2 of the wave height meter 1 can be protected from the strong impact of the wave at low cost.

Further, according to the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the tubular body 3 is arranged so as to surround the antenna portion 11 of the main body portion 2 when viewed from the axial direction of the tubular body 3. Therefore, the radio wave emitted from the antenna portion 11 toward the water surface WS can be reflected by the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3. Thereby, even if the antenna portion 11 having a wide beam width is used, the irradiation region of the radio wave to the water surface WS can be limited. Further, the radio wave (reflected wave) reflected in the region outside the predetermined region of the radio wave irradiation region on the water surface WS can be reflected on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body 3. That is, it is possible to prevent the reflected wave from the region outside the predetermined region from reaching the antenna portion 11. From the above, even if the antenna unit 11 having a wide beam width is used, the wave height and the water level in a narrow region of the water surface WS can be measured. This makes it possible to accurately measure the wave height and water level.

Further, it is easy to reduce the size of the antenna portion 11 having a wide beam width (particularly, to reduce the area of the antenna portion 11 on the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2). Therefore, the impact of the wave transmitted to the antenna portion 11 can be further reduced. That is, the antenna portion 11 can be effectively protected.

Further, in the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the length dimension l of the tubular body 3 in the axial direction is longer than the inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3. Therefore, as compared with the case where the length dimension l of the cylindrical body 3 is equal to or less than the inner diameter dimension d of the tubular body 3, the wave that has entered the inside of the tubular body 3 is more likely to be generated from the facing surface 2a of the main body portion 2. The air inside the cylindrical body 3 can be compressed more at a distant position. That is, the energy of the wave can be further effectively weakened at a position farther from the facing surface 2a of the main body 2. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the wave from reaching the facing surface 2a of the main body 2. Further, even if the wave reaches the facing surface 2a of the main body 2, the impact of the wave transmitted to the main body 2 can be further weakened.

Further, in the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, a reinforcing plate 4 is provided between the main body portion 2 and the tubular body 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wave that has entered the inside of the tubular body 3 from directly reaching the facing surface 2a of the main body 2. Further, the reinforcing plate 4 can effectively suppress the impact of the wave entering the inside of the tubular body 3 from being transmitted to the main body 2, and further weaken the impact of the wave transmitted to the main body 2.

Further, in the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3 has water repellency. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent water (water droplets) from adhering to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3. As a result, the radio waves radiated from the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 through the inside of the tubular body 3 toward the water surface WS and the reflected waves from the water surface WS through the inside of the tubular body 3 toward the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 are generated. It is possible to effectively suppress reflection in water (water droplets) adhering to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3.

It is particularly effective when the temperature around the wave height meter 1 changes that water (water droplets) is less likely to adhere to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3. Hereinafter, this point will be specifically described.
For example, when the water adhering to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3 freezes, it becomes ice. Then, in a state where the ice adhering to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3 is about to melt, water stays on the surface of the ice. Since the water remaining on the surface of the ice reflects radio waves (reflected waves), there is a high possibility that the wave height and water level will be measured incorrectly. On the other hand, in the wave height meter 1 of the present embodiment, the adhesion of ice to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the reflection of water (water droplets) adhering to the inner peripheral surface 3c of the tubular body 3. This makes it possible to accurately measure the wave height and water level.

Although the details of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In the wave height meter of the above embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a gap G may be formed between the main body 2 and the tubular body 3. Further, although not shown, when a reinforcing plate 4 (see FIG. 2) similar to the above embodiment is provided between the main body 2 and the tubular body 3, the space between the reinforcing plate 4 and the tubular body 3 is provided. A gap G may be formed in the space. Then, the internal space of the tubular body 3 may be connected to the outside of the tubular body 3 through the above-mentioned gap G. The gap G may be formed, for example, in a part of the tubular body 3 in the circumferential direction. The gap G may be formed small enough not to hinder the compression of air by the wave (water) that has entered the inside of the tubular body 3 so as to close the second opening 3B of the tubular body 3, for example. For example, only one gap G may be formed, or a plurality of gaps G may be formed. The plurality of gaps G may be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the tubular body 3.

According to the wave height meter illustrated in FIG. 3, the wave (water) that rises toward the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 and enters the inside of the tubular body 3 is between the tubular body 3 and the main body 2. It can be discharged to the outside of the tubular body 3 from the gap G of. As a result, the energy of the rising wave inside the tubular body 3 is weakened, and the impact of the wave transmitted to the main body portion 2 can be weakened. Therefore, the wave (water) rising toward the facing surface 2a of the main body 2 temporarily enters the inside of the cylindrical body 3 so as not to block the second opening 3B of the tubular body 3, and the wave. Even if the compression of the air inside the tubular body 3 is insufficient, the main body 2 can be protected from the strong impact of the wave.

The present invention is applicable not only to a wave height meter but also to other water level distance measuring instruments such as a water level gauge.

1 Wave height meter (water surface distance measuring machine)
2 Main body 2a Facing surface 3 Cylindrical body 3A First opening 3B Second opening 3c Inner peripheral surface 4 Reinforcing plate 11 Antenna part 12 Case G Gap

Claims (3)

The main body, which is arranged at intervals with respect to the water surface,
A cylindrical body attached to the facing surface of the main body portion facing the water surface and extending from the facing surface toward the water surface is provided .
The main body portion includes an antenna portion that irradiates radio waves from the facing surface toward the water surface and receives the radio waves reflected on the water surface.
The tubular body is arranged so as to surround the antenna portion when viewed from the axial direction of the tubular body.
The length dimension of the tubular body in the axial direction is longer than the inner diameter dimension of the tubular body.
It has impact resistance and is equipped with a reinforcing plate that is stacked on the facing surface of the main body.
The tubular body is a water surface distance measuring machine attached to a facing surface of the main body portion via the reinforcing plate. The water surface distance measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body has water repellency. A gap is formed between the tubular body and the main body, and a gap is formed.
The water surface distance measuring device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the internal space of the tubular body is connected to the outside of the tubular body through the gap.

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