JPH10230897A - Semi-submersible floating body provided with vertically moving-type underwater observation chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely perform underwater observation even in heavy weather by using a strong vertically moving means instead of a suspending rope to raise and lower a underwater observation chamber, in a stable semi-submersible floating body. SOLUTION: A vertical driving shaft 6 capable of being vertically moved is provided on an upper hull 1 of a semi-submersible floating body, and an observation chamber 7 having a water-tight structure and a ballast tank 9 are provided on the lower end of the driving shaft 6. In observing, the ballast tank 9 is filled with ballast water, while, when the observation chamber 7 is raised together with the driving shaft 6, water is discharged from the ballast tank 9, and power for raising and driving the driving shaft 6 is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semi-submersible floating body having an underwater observation room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as shown in FIG. 4, a semi-submersible floating body has an upper hull 1 above the water surface and a lower hull 2 below the water surface.
Are connected by a column 3, and various operations on the floating body are performed using the upper hull 1 after the lower hull 2 is moored to the seabed with the mooring cable 4. When underwater observation is performed using such a semi-submersible floating body, it is conceivable that a measuring instrument, an underwater work boat, or the like is lowered from the upper hull 1 by using a winch or a crane.

[0003]

As described above, when a measuring instrument for underwater observation, a winch or a crane is used to lower a submersible work boat into water, it is necessary to use a hanging rope in a stormy day. Descending measuring instruments and underwater work boats,
It may be dangerous due to the wind swaying or being rubbed by the waves when landing. Therefore, the present invention provides a stable semi-submersible floating body, which uses a rigid vertical moving means instead of a hanging line for lifting and lowering the underwater observation room, so that underwater observation can be performed safely even in stormy weather. An object of the present invention is to provide a semi-submersible floating body with an underwater observation room.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a semi-submersible floating body with a vertically movable underwater observation room according to the present invention comprises an upper hull above a water surface and a water surface extending downward from the upper hull. A plurality of columns penetrating through the lower hull and a lower hull connected to the lower end of the column and provided in the water so as to form a pair on the left and right. A vertical drive shaft movably provided on the upper hull, and a drive mechanism for moving the drive shaft up and down. At the lower end of the drive shaft, a ballast tank capable of pouring and discharging water, and a watertight observation room Are provided.

In the above-mentioned semi-submersible floating body with a vertically movable underwater observation room according to the present invention, when the observation room of the watertight structure accommodated in the upper hull is lowered into the water when not in use, the observation room and the ballast tank are used. Lower the vertical drive shaft with the lower end, and after the ballast tank has landed, inject ballast water into the tank and stably and safely move the observation room to the required water depth. Can be lowered.

[0006] Observation can be performed through the observation window of the observation room that has fallen into the water, or observation equipment attached to the observation room can be used. If necessary, a secondary device provided on the wall of the observation room can be used. Divers and underwater work boats can also be dispatched using the underwater entrance with a heavy watertight door structure.

After the observation, the operation of raising the vertical drive shaft is performed. At this time, buoyancy is obtained by drainage from the ballast tank, and the power required for the drive mechanism of the drive shaft is obtained. You can save money.

As described above, according to the semi-submersible floating body with the vertically movable underwater observation room, the lower end of the rigid vertical drive shaft which is vertically movable by the driving mechanism in the upper hull of the semi-submersible floating body. Since the observation room and ballast tank are installed in the observation room, the observation room will not be shaken by wind or waves as in the case of using a conventional winch or suspension means using a crane's hanging cable, greatly improving safety. This has the advantage that discomfort to the observer in the observation room is eliminated.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a semi-submersible floating body with a vertically movable underwater observation room according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a driving method of a vertical drive shaft in the semi-submersible floating body of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the semi-submersible floating body of FIG. 1 is slightly deformed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the semi-submersible floating body of this embodiment also has an upper hull 1 above the water surface and four columns 3 extending downward from the upper hull 1 and penetrating the water surface.
And a lower hull 2 connected to the lower end of the column 3 and provided in water so as to form a pair on the left and right.

At the time of observation, the lower hull 2 is moored on the seabed by the mooring line 4.

In this embodiment, the left and right lower hulls 2
A vertical drive shaft 6 is provided on the upper hull 1 so as to be vertically movable between the upper hull 1 and the rack 5 provided on the drive shaft 6 as the drive mechanism K for vertically moving the drive shaft 6. A power unit (not shown) in the hull 1 uses a pinion 8 (FIG. 2).
See, for example).

As the drive mechanism K, in addition to the above-described rack and pinion system, a system in which the vertical drive shaft 6 is formed in a telescopic structure and the lower end of the drive shaft is moved up and down by fluid pressure. Good.

In the present embodiment, a ballast tank 9 capable of pouring and draining is further provided at the center of the lower end of the drive shaft 6, and an observation chamber 7 having a watertight structure is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the tank 9. I have.

The observation room 7 has an underwater entrance 10 having a double watertight door structure through which an underwater work boat 13 and a diver can enter and exit.
An observation window 11 is provided. When the lower end of the drive shaft 6 is raised to reach the upper hull 1, the observation room 7 is stored in the storage 12 in the upper hull 1.

In the above-described semi-submersible floating body with a vertically movable underwater observation room according to the present embodiment, the storage of the upper hull 1 when not in use.
When lowering the observation chamber 7 of the watertight structure accommodated in 12 into the water, the observation mechanism 7 and the vertical drive shaft 6 having the ballast tank 9 at the lower end are lowered by the drive mechanism K, and the ballast After the tank 9 has landed, the observation room 7 can be stably and safely lowered to a required water depth by injecting ballast water into the tank 9.

Then, the observation window of the observation room 7 which falls into the water
11 can be used for observation, and observation equipment such as water temperature, water quality, and flow velocity attached to the observation room 7 can be used. If necessary, a double watertight door structure provided on the wall of the observation room 7 Divers and underwater work boats 13 can also be dispatched using the underwater doorway 10 of the present invention.

After the observation is completed, an operation of raising the vertical drive shaft 6 is performed. At this time, buoyancy is obtained by drainage from the ballast tank 9 and the drive mechanism K of the drive shaft 6 is required. Power can be saved.

As described above, according to this semi-submersible floating body with a vertically movable underwater observation room, in the stable upper hull 1 of the semi-submersible floating body, the rigid vertical type which is vertically movable by the driving mechanism K is provided. Since the observation chamber 7 and the ballast tank 9 are provided at the lower end of the drive shaft 6, the observation chamber is not shaken by wind or waves as in the case of using a conventional winch or a suspension means such as a crane. This has the advantage of greatly improving safety and eliminating discomfort to the observer in the observation room.

In the state where the observation room 7 is stored in the storage 12 of the upper hull 1, there is an advantage that the maintenance becomes easy.

FIG. 3 shows a modified example of the semi-submersible floating body of FIG. 1. In this modified example, the cross section of the lower hull 2 is circular, and the lower hull 2 is slightly different from the floating body of FIG. However, the other shapes and structures are almost the same, and the same reference numerals indicate the same members. Also, in the case of the semi-submersible floating body with the vertically movable underwater observation room in FIG. 3, the same operation and effect as those in the above-described embodiments of FIGS.

[0022]

As described above, according to the semi-submersible floating body with the vertically movable underwater observation room of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) When lowering the watertight observation room stored in the upper hull into the water, lower the observation room and the vertical drive shaft equipped with the ballast tank at the lower end. After watering, ballast water can be injected into the tank, and the observation room can be stably and safely lowered to a required water depth. (2) Observation can be performed through the observation window of the observation room that has dropped into the water, and observation equipment attached to the observation room can be used.If necessary, double watertightness provided on the wall of the observation room can be used. Divers and underwater work boats can also be deployed using the underwater doorway with a door structure. (3) After the observation is completed, the operation of raising the vertical drive shaft is performed. At this time, buoyancy is obtained by drainage from the ballast tank, and power required for the drive mechanism of the drive shaft is reduced. be able to. (4) An observation room and ballast tank are provided at the lower end of a rigid vertical drive shaft that is vertically movable by a drive mechanism in the stable upper hull of a semi-submersible floating body. The observing room is not shaken by wind and waves as in the case of using the hanging means by a rope, so that the safety is greatly improved and there is an advantage that the discomfort given to the observer in the observing room is eliminated. (5) When the observation room is housed in the upper hull, there is also an advantage that its maintenance is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a semi-submersible floating body with a vertically movable underwater observation room as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a drive system of a vertical drive shaft in the semi-submersible floating body of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example in which the semi-submersible floating body of FIG. 1 is slightly deformed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional semi-submersible floating body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper hull 2 Lower hull 3 Column 4 Mooring line 5 Rack 6 Vertical drive shaft 7 Observation room 8 Pinion 9 Ballast tank 10 Underwater entrance 11 Observation window 12 Storage room 13 Underwater work boat

Claims (1)

[Claims] An upper hull above the water surface, a plurality of columns extending downward from the upper hull and penetrating the water surface, and provided in the water so as to be coupled to the lower end of the column and form a pair on the left and right. In a semi-submersible floating body consisting of a lower hull, a vertical drive shaft movably provided on the upper hull between the left and right lower hulls,
A vertical movement type underwater observation, comprising a drive mechanism for vertically moving the same drive shaft, and a ballast tank capable of pouring and draining water and a watertight structure observation room provided at a lower end of the drive shaft. Semi-submersible float with room.