JPH08104292A - Tensile force generation mechanism of towing type sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To widen a scope of speed by providing an energizing means which energizes each resistance plate in such a manner that each resistance plate is opened at a certain angle for an axial core of a sensor when towing speed is low and each resistance plate is closed as towing speed increases. CONSTITUTION: Since each resistance plate 8 is open due to energizing force of each torsion spring 9 and likely to receive resistance of stream, fluid force acts greatly on each resistance plate 8. When fluid force acts on each resistance plate 8, tensile force is generated in a sensor 1. Accordingly, the sensor 1 becomes horizontal, and a sensor 3 in a cylindrical case 2 is towed linearly. The information in the water is collected by each sensor 3 in this condition. During the towing, the resistance plate 8 which receives energizing force of the torsion spring 9 is balanced in a condition in which it is opened when towing speed is low, and the resistance plate 8 is closed because the torsion spring 9 is pressed hard when resistance increases as towing speed increases. The ratio at which tensile force of the sensor 1 increases is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tension generating mechanism for maintaining linearity of an array of sensors provided in a sensor device towed in a fluid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A towed type sensor device for towing underwater by a ship or the like via a towline is known. Multiple sensors are used in this sensor device, but if the specific gravity of the entire device becomes uneven due to the heavy sensor, the towing condition will be disturbed and the linearity of the sensor array will deteriorate, resulting in a sensor performance Therefore, in order to maintain the linearity of the arrangement of the sensors, a tension generating mechanism for applying a tension to the sensor device by a fluid force is added.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a conventional tension generating mechanism added to such a towed type sensor device. In the figure, 1 is a towing type sensor device, and this sensor device 1 is configured by arranging a plurality of sensors 3 at a predetermined interval in a flexible cylindrical housing 2.
One end thereof is attached to the towline 4 which also serves as a signal cable for each sensor 3, and A indicates its attachment portion.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a sea chute as a tension generating mechanism, which is attached to the other end of the sensor device 1.
In this configuration, when the sensor device 1 is suspended in water through a tow line 4 by a towing ship (not shown) and the tow is towed, the sea chute 16 receives fluid force, that is, resistance of water to open, and a tension is generated in the sensor device 1. Let

As a result, the sensor device 1 is placed in a horizontal posture, and the sensors 3 in the cylindrical casing 2 are towed linearly. In this state, each sensor 3 collects information in the water. FIG. 7 is a side view showing another conventional tension generating mechanism added to the towed body 1. In this example, as the tension generating mechanism, a cylindrically formed straightening line 17 is used, and the straightening line 16 is used as the towing body. It is attached to the other end of 1.

Also in this case, when the sensor device 1 is towed by the towed ship via the tow line 4 and towed, the flow straightening line 17 receives fluid force and expands to generate tension in the sensor device 1. With this, the sensor device 1 can be towed linearly while keeping the sensor device 1 in a horizontal posture, and each sensor 3 can collect information on the water.

[0007]

However, each of the above-mentioned conventional tension generating mechanisms has a problem that the towing speed of the sensor device is limited, and this problem will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing tension characteristics at the attachment portion A of the sensor device and the towline, where the horizontal axis is the towing speed (m / s) and the vertical axis is the tension (Kgf).

As shown in this figure, the usable tension of this kind of sensor device is required to be at least 15 Kgf, but in order to obtain the tension of 15 Kgf by the conventional tension generating mechanism, towing of 0.6 m / s is required. Speed was needed. On the other hand, when the towing speed becomes high, a large tension is generated in the sensor device in the conventional tension generating mechanism, and the towing speed becomes 1.4%.
If it is more than m / s, the sensor device and the attachment part A of the towline will be destroyed.

Therefore, when the conventional tension generating mechanism is used, the towing speed that can be used by the sensor device is 0.6 m / s.
There is a problem that the use of the sensor device at extremely low speeds and high speeds is hindered due to being limited to a range of up to 1.4 m / s.

[0010]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention is constructed by arranging a plurality of sensors at a predetermined interval in a flexible cylindrical housing, and the sensor is placed in a fluid by a tow line. In the tension generation mechanism of the towed sensor device that generates tension in the towed sensor device,
A plurality of resistance plates rotatably and circularly arranged at the rear end of the sensor device, and when the towing speed is slow, each resistance plate is at a constant angle with respect to the axis of the sensor device. And a biasing means for biasing each resistance plate so that the resistance plate closes as the towing speed increases.

[0011]

According to the present invention having such a structure, when the towing speed of the sensor device is slow, each resistance plate is opened by the biasing means, thereby increasing the resistance force to the fluid force.
Even if the speed is extremely low, keep the sensor in a horizontal position to maintain the linearity of the sensor, and as the towing speed becomes faster, each resistance plate closes to reduce the resistance to fluid force. Prevent damage to the rope attachments.

Therefore, according to this, the use of the sensor device at extremely low speeds and high speeds is not hindered, and the speed range of the sensor device can be expanded.

[0013]

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view of a main part of a tension generating mechanism of a towed type sensor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a usage state, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. .

In the figure, 1 is a sensor device, 2 is a cylindrical casing, 3 is a sensor, and 4 is a towline, and these correspond to conventional ones, and are therefore denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. 5 is a tension generating mechanism, and this tension generating mechanism 5 is
As shown in FIG. 2, a mounting base 6 provided at the rear end of the cylindrical housing 2 of the sensor device 1 and one end of each mounting base 6 are rotatably mounted on the end surface of the mounting base 6 via a shaft 7. A plurality of resistance plates 8 having arcuate curved surfaces arranged so as to form a circle, and each resistance plate 8 is a sensor device 1.
It is constituted by a torsion spring 9 as a biasing means for biasing the shaft core to open at a constant angle.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the sensor device 1 is suspended in water through the tow line 4 by a towing ship (not shown) and the tow is towed, the fluid force generated during the tow acts on the sensor device 1 as a whole, but as shown in FIG. Since the resistance plates 8 are opened by the biasing force of the torsion springs 9 and are easily subjected to the flow resistance, the fluid force largely acts on each resistance plate 8.

When a fluid force acts on each resistance plate 8,
Since tension is generated in the sensor device 1, the sensor device 1 is placed in a horizontal posture, and the sensor 3 in the tubular housing 2 is towed linearly by this. During this towing, the resistance plate 8 receiving the biasing force of the torsion spring 9 balances in the open state if the towing speed is low, and if the resistance increases as the speed increases, the torsion spring increases. The resistance plate 8 is closed to strongly push 9, and the rate at which the tension of the sensor device 1 increases is reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparison of the tension characteristics generated in the mounting portion A of the sensor device 1 and the tow line 4, where the horizontal axis is the towing speed (m / s) and the vertical axis is the tension (Kgf). is there.
In the figure, a solid line a is a tension characteristic (estimated value) according to the first embodiment, a broken line b is a tension characteristic when the resistance plate 8 is fixed so as not to be closed, and a one-dot chain line c is a tension characteristic according to a conventional example, a two-dot chain line. d is a tension characteristic when the tension generating mechanism is not provided.

As is apparent from this figure, in the tension generating mechanism according to the first embodiment, when the towing speed is 0.2 m / s, the sensor device 1 is in a usable tension state and 1.6 m / s.
The range of usable tension is up to s. Therefore, compared to the conventional tension generating mechanism shown in FIG. 8, the operating speed range of the sensor device 1 is widened, and the towing speed can be used from extremely low speed to high speed.

The tension applied to the sensor device 1 is determined by the size and shape of the resistance plate 8 and the spring force of the torsion spring 9, and these parameters can be freely adjusted according to the usage conditions of the sensor device 1. Can be set to.
5A and 5B are side views of a main part showing a second embodiment of the tension generating mechanism 5, where FIG. 5A is a state in which the resistance plate 8 is open, and FIG.
Indicates a closed state.

In this embodiment, a guide shaft 10 is provided on the mounting base 6 so as to be located at the center of the array of a plurality of resistance plates 8.
A slider 11 is movably mounted on the guide shaft 10, and a coil spring 12 for urging the slider 11 away from the mounting base 6 is mounted on the guide shaft 10. Further, the guide shaft 10 and each resistance plate 8 are mounted. A plurality of L-shaped metal fittings 13 are rotatably provided on the mounting base 6 so as to be located between and, one end of each metal fitting 13 and each resistance plate 8 are connected by the first arm 14, and Metal fittings 13
The other end and the slider 11 are connected by the second arm 15 so that each resistance plate 8 opens at a constant angle with respect to the axis of the sensor device 1.

In the second embodiment having such a structure,
The plurality of resistance plates 8 are respectively the first arm 14 and the metal fitting 1.
3 and the second arm 15 are connected to the slider 11, the slider 11 closes the first arm 14, the metal fitting 13, and the second arm 15 as the resistance plates 8 are closed by the fluid force during the towing of the sensor device 1. The arm 15 is pulled to the side of the mount 6 as indicated by the arrow.

As a result, the slider 11 moves to the side of the mounting base 6 while compressing the coil spring 12. At this time, the respective resistance plates 8 are respectively provided with the first arm 14, the metal fitting 13, and the second arm 14, as described above. Since the armature 15 is connected to the slider 11, the resistance plates 8 are interlocked with each other, and the reaction force of the coil spring 12 acts when the resistance plates 8 are closed, so that the resistance plates 8 are shaken due to unbalanced movement. Sensor device 1 that does not occur
The stable towed state of is maintained.

Although not shown, in another embodiment, a rubber cord is used instead of the coil spring 12 as the biasing means for biasing the resistance plate 8 in the opening direction, and the slider 11 is made of this rubber cord. The structure may be such that it is pulled in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the movement of the resistance plate 8 is oscillatory and the damping is insufficient,
The guide shaft 10 can be equipped with a damper by a cylinder type shock absorber (not shown), and by doing so, it quickly reaches a steady state with respect to a change in resistance force.

Further, in order to prevent a minute change in tension due to opening and closing of the resistance plate 8 from being transmitted to the sensor device 1, a rubber hose-like vibration attenuator (not shown) may be provided in the mounting base 6 for vibration. Uniform tension can be applied by stretching and damping the attenuator. Further, when a large tension is required at an extremely low speed, the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above is used.
It is possible to use a plurality of tension generating mechanisms according to the above embodiment by connecting them in series.

In this case, it is desirable that the resistance plates 8 are arranged so that their mounting pitches are shifted by half, and the tension generators may be connected by the above-mentioned rubber hose-shaped vibration damper. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the description has been made assuming that water is used as the fluid, but application to a sensor device used in the air is also possible.

[0026]

As described above, the present invention includes a plurality of resistance plates rotatably and circularly arranged at the rear end of a sensor device towed in a fluid by a tow line.
When the towing speed is slow, each resistance plate opens at a constant angle with respect to the axis of the sensor device, and each resistance plate is biased so that each resistance plate closes as the towing speed increases. When the towing speed of the sensor device is slow, each resistance plate is opened by the urging device to increase the resistance force to the fluid force, and thus the sensor device is placed in a horizontal posture even at an extremely low speed. The linearity of the sensor is maintained, and as the towing speed increases, each resistance plate closes to reduce the resistance force to the fluid force, thereby preventing the sensor device and the towline attachment part from being destroyed. I have to.

Therefore, according to this, the use of the sensor device at extremely low speed and high speed will not be hindered, and the speed range of the sensor device can be widened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of essential parts showing a first embodiment of a tension generating mechanism of a towed sensor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a usage state of the embodiment of FIG.

3 is a partially enlarged view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparison of tension characteristics generated in a mounting portion of a sensor device and a towline.

FIG. 5 is a side view of essential parts showing a second embodiment of the tension generating mechanism of the towed sensor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing another conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a tension characteristic in a mounting portion of a sensor device and a towline in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor device 2 Cylindrical housing 3 Sensor 4 Towing line 5 Tension generating mechanism 6 Mounting base 7 Axis 8 Resistance plate 9 Torsion spring 10 Guide shaft 11 Slider 12 Coil spring 13 Metal fitting 14 First arm 15 Second arm

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A towed sensor device configured by arranging a plurality of sensors at a predetermined interval in a flexible cylindrical housing, and generating tension in a sensor device towed in a fluid by a tow line. In the tension generating mechanism, a plurality of resistance plates rotatably and circularly arranged at the rear end of the sensor device, and when the towing speed is slow, each resistance plate becomes the axis of the sensor device. The tension of the towing type sensor device is characterized in that it is provided with an urging means for opening each of the resistance plates so that the resistance plates are opened at a constant angle and closed as the towing speed becomes faster. Generating mechanism. 2. The tension generating mechanism for a towed sensor device according to claim 1, wherein each resistance plate is provided with a biasing means so that each resistance plate can be independently opened and closed. 3. The tension generating mechanism for a towed sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of resistance plates are connected to one urging means so that the resistance plates are interlocked to open and close. .