JPH11211516A - Underwater sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an underwater sensor which sinks by itself without being damaged. SOLUTION: A stopper fixing hole 4t penetrating as far as the inside is formed in a sensor case 4c. A step 4d is formed around the stopper fixing hole 4t. A plurality of protruding parts 7, 9 engaging with the step 4d are formed. A stopper 4s in which presspure tightness of the protruding parts 7, 9 is set lower than that of the sensor case 4c is attached to the stopper fixing hole 4t. A gasket 4g is last fixed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an underwater sensor that collects and transmits predetermined information while being suspended in water, and that self-submits after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a general underwater exploration buoy. The underwater exploration buoy 200 has a configuration in which a cable 12 is attached to a float unit 11 having buoyancy and having a function of wirelessly transmitting data, and a damper 13 and an underwater sensor 14 are connected to the other end of the cable 12. By adjusting the length of the cable 12, the depth at which the underwater sensor 14 is suspended can be adjusted.

The underwater sensor 14 is provided with predetermined data (for example, gravity, magnetic force,
Flow rate, water temperature, etc.), and sends the data to the float unit 11 via the cable 12. The float unit 11 wirelessly transmits the data to, for example, a nearby observation base. In the underwater sensor 14, a board (not shown) for collecting the data and the like are housed in a sensor case 14c shown in FIG. The sensor case 14c is provided with a cable mounting hole 14h through which the cable 12 passes. Sensor case 14c
Is made of, for example, aluminum and has a pressure-resistant completely closed structure.

[0004] The underwater exploration buoy 200 is operated after the use time (for example, several tens of days) elapses.
Loses buoyancy, so that the cable 12, the damper 13, and the underwater sensor 4 begin to sink by gravity. The water pressure applied to the underwater sensor 14 increases as the depth increases, and the sensor case 14c is broken by the water pressure when the water pressure exceeds the pressure resistance of the sensor case 14c.

[0005]

However, in the underwater sensor having the above structure, when the sensor case is destroyed (crushed), the water pressure changes suddenly, so that a destruction sound is generated. Note that noise is generated in the observation data of the underwater sensor of another nearby underwater exploration buoy due to the destruction sound, and there is a problem that the reliability of the data is deteriorated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a submersible sensor that self-sets without being destroyed.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a sensor case which has a pressure-resistant structure and accommodates a sensor for collecting predetermined information, and which is suspended in water. In the underwater sensor that collects the information in the above, the sensor case is provided with a hole penetrating to the inside, a step is formed around the hole, and a stopper provided with a plurality of protrusions engaging with the step of the hole is provided. An underwater sensor is provided, wherein the underwater sensor is attached to a hole and the pressure resistance of the protrusion of the stopper is set lower than the pressure resistance of the sensor case.

In the above-mentioned underwater sensor, since the pressure resistance of the protrusion of the stopper is lower than the pressure resistance of the sensor case, the protrusion is damaged earlier than the sensor case by the water pressure. When the protrusion is damaged, water gradually enters the sensor case while alleviating sudden changes in water pressure, and eventually becomes full of water and the same pressure inside and outside the sensor case. Will settle. Since the sensor case is not broken, no breaking sound is generated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an underwater sensor having the above structure, wherein the pressure resistance of the protrusion is adjusted based on the size, number, or material of the protrusion. Provide a sensor. In the underwater sensor, the pressure resistance of the projection can be easily adjusted by changing the dimension (for example, width, length, thickness) or the number or the material of the projection. Thus, it is possible to finely set whether or not the camera should be damaged.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a sensor case which has a pressure-resistant structure and accommodates a sensor for collecting predetermined information, and stores the information in a state of being suspended in water. In the underwater sensor to be collected, a hole penetrating into the sensor case is provided in the sensor case, a step is formed around the hole, and a stopper engaging with the step of the hole and forming at least one groove is attached to the hole. An underwater sensor is provided, wherein the pressure resistance of the stopper is set lower than the pressure resistance of the sensor case.

In the above-mentioned underwater sensor, since the pressure resistance of the stopper is lower than the pressure resistance of the sensor case, the stopper is broken along the groove before the sensor case due to the water pressure. When the stopper is broken, water gradually enters the sensor case while alleviating sudden changes in water pressure, and eventually becomes full of water and the same pressure inside and outside the sensor case. It will settle. Since the sensor case is not broken, no breaking sound is generated.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that in the underwater sensor having the above-described structure, the pressure resistance of the stopper is adjusted based on the size or the number of the groove formed in the stopper. An underwater sensor is provided. In the underwater sensor, the dimension of the groove (for example,
By changing the (width, length, depth) or number, the pressure resistance of the stopper can be easily adjusted, so that it is possible to finely set at which depth the stopper should be damaged.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an underwater sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention. This underwater sensor 4
Here, the sensor case 4c houses a substrate (not shown) for collecting data such as gravity, magnetic force, flow velocity, and water temperature. The sensor case 4c is provided with a stopper mounting hole 4t, and a step 4d is formed around the stopper mounting hole 4t. A gasket 4g and a stopper 4s are mounted in the stopper mounting hole 4t. At the center of the gasket 4g and the stopper 4s, a cable mounting hole 4h for passing the cable 12 (see FIG. 4) is formed.

The sensor case 4c is, for example, made of aluminum and has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 10 cm and a height of 10 cm.
It is pressure-resistant and has a completely sealed structure. 4g of said gasket
Is made of rubber, for example, and water is supplied from the sensor case 4 through the stopper mounting hole 4t and the cable mounting hole 4h.
It is provided so as not to enter into c.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stopper 4g is
A plurality of protrusions 6, 7, 8, 9 are formed on a circular plate 5. At the center of the stopper 4g, a cable mounting hole 4h for passing the cable 12 is formed. The stopper 4g is made of, for example, a plastic resin. In the drawing, a1 is the diameter of the plate 5, and a2 is the outer diameter of the stopper 4g. Also, b1 is the protrusion 8 (or 6, 7,
In the height of 9), b2 is a width and b3 is a length.

The height b1, width b2 and length b of the projection 8
By changing 3, the strength of the projection 8 can be adjusted. For example, when the height b1 of the projection 8 is low, the width b2 is narrow, and the length b3 is short, the projection becomes weak,
Can be broken with less force. Conversely, if the height b1 of the projection 8 is increased, the width b2 is increased, and the length b3 is increased, the projection is strengthened and a larger force is required to break the projection. Although four protrusions are shown in the figure, increasing the number of protrusions requires a greater force to break those protrusions.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view around the stopper mounting hole 4t. The protrusions 7, 9 (and 6,
8) is adapted to engage with the step 4d of the sensor case 4s. That is, the diameter a1 of the plate 5 is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the stopper mounting hole 4t, and the outer diameter a2 of the stopper 4g is set to the step 4 of the stopper mounting hole 4t.
Let it be equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the part above d.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an underwater exploration buoy using the underwater sensor. In this underwater exploration buoy 100, a cable 12 is attached to a float portion 11 having buoyancy and having a function of wirelessly transmitting data.
Is connected to a damper 13 and the underwater sensor 4 at the other end. By adjusting the length of the cable 12, the depth at which the underwater sensor 4 is suspended can be adjusted.

The underwater sensor 4 observes predetermined data (for example, gravity, magnetic force, flow velocity, water temperature, etc.) at the suspended depth, and transmits the data via the cable 12 to the float. Send to unit 11. The float unit 11 wirelessly transmits the data to, for example, a nearby observation base. In the state of being suspended in water, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the water pressure P is applied to the gasket 4g, and the stopper 4s is soft (made of plastic resin), so that the stopper 4s is pressed by the gasket 4g. , Acts as a gasket groove.

When the use time (for example, several tens of days) elapses, the underwater exploration buoy 100 starts to float.
Loses buoyancy, so that the cable 12, the damper 13, and the underwater sensor 4 begin to sink by gravity. As the depth increases, the water pressure applied to the underwater sensor 4 increases, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the water pressure P exceeds the pressure resistance of the projections 7, 9 (and 6, 8) of the stopper 4s. Sometimes, the projections 7, 9 (and 6, 8) are damaged, the gasket 4g and the stopper 4s are pushed into the sensor case 4c, and the stopper mounting hole 4t is opened. When the stopper mounting hole 4t is opened, water gradually enters the sensor case 4c from there while alleviating a sudden change in water pressure, and eventually becomes full of water, and the pressure inside and outside the sensor case 4c becomes equal.
Underwater sensor 100 without destroying sensor case 4c
Settles. Since the sensor case 4c is not broken, no breaking sound is generated.

The height b1, the width b2, the length b3, and the number of the projections are adjusted according to the depth (water pressure) at which the projections are to be damaged. For example, if four protrusions having a height b1, a width b2, and a length b3 are broken at a certain depth F1, the height of the protrusions may be reduced at a depth F2 (F2> F1). To b4 (b4> b1)
And Thus, it is possible to finely set the depth at which the protrusion is damaged.

In the above description, the pressure resistance of the projection is adjusted by changing the dimensions. However, the pressure resistance of the projection is adjusted by changing the material of the projection (or the entire stopper). You may. Instead of the stopper 4s, a stopper 24s shown in FIG. 6 may be used. In the stopper 24s, a plurality of grooves 26 and 27 are formed in a circular plate 25. At the center of the stopper 24g, a cable mounting hole 4 for passing the cable 12 is provided.
h is formed. The stopper 4g is made of, for example, a plastic resin. A2 in the drawing is the outer diameter of the stopper 24g. Further, c1 is the depth of the groove 26 (or 27), and c2 is the width.

When the depth increases due to self-sinking, the water pressure increases,
When the water pressure P exceeds the pressure resistance of the stopper 4s, the stopper 24s is broken along the grooves 26 and 27, the gasket and the stopper 24s are pushed into the sensor case, and the stopper mounting hole is opened. When the stopper mounting hole is opened,
From there, the water gradually enters the sensor case while alleviating a sudden change in water pressure, and eventually becomes full of water and the same pressure inside and outside the sensor case, and the underwater sensor sinks without breaking the sensor case. Since the sensor case is not broken, no breaking sound is generated.

By changing the depth c1 and width c2 of the groove, the pressure resistance of the stopper 24s can be adjusted. For example, when the depth c1 of the groove is increased and the width c2 is increased, the stopper 24s is easily broken along the groove. Conversely, if the depth c1 of the groove is small and the width c2 is small, the stopper 24s is less likely to be broken along the groove. Although two grooves are shown in the drawing, if the number of grooves is reduced, the stopper 24s is less likely to be damaged.

In the above description, the pressure resistance of the stopper is adjusted by changing the dimension of the groove.
The pressure resistance of the stopper may be adjusted by changing the material. Further, in the above description, the cable mounting hole for passing the cable 12 is provided at the center of the stopper, but the stopper mounting hole and the cable mounting hole may be separately provided.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sensor case is provided with a hole penetrating to the inside, a step is formed around the hole, and a plurality of projections engaging with the step of the hole are formed. The provided stopper is attached to the hole, and the pressure resistance of the protrusion of the stopper is set lower than the pressure resistance of the sensor case. For this reason, since the stopper is damaged before the sensor case, the water gradually enters the sensor case while relieving a sudden change in water pressure, and the underwater sensor sinks without breaking the sensor case.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an underwater sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stopper.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the underwater sensor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an underwater exploration buoy using the underwater sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the principle of breakage of a stopper.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example of a stopper.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of an underwater exploration buoy.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional underwater sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Underwater exploration buoy 4 Underwater sensor 4c Sensor case 4t Stopper mounting hole 4d Step 4g Gasket 4s Stopper 4h Cable mounting hole

Claims (4)

[Claims] An underwater sensor having a pressure-resistant structure and containing a sensor for collecting predetermined information and collecting the information in a state of being suspended in water. A hole is formed through the hole, a step is formed around the hole, a stopper provided with a plurality of protrusions engaging with the step of the hole is attached to the hole, and the pressure resistance of the protrusion of the stopper is measured by the sensor. An underwater sensor characterized by being set lower than the pressure resistance of the case. 2. The underwater sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pressure resistance of the protrusion is adjusted based on the size, number, or material of the protrusion. 3. An underwater sensor having a pressure-resistant structure and accommodating a sensor for collecting predetermined information and collecting the information in a state of being suspended in water. A hole is formed through the hole, a step is formed around the hole, and a stopper that engages with the step of the hole and has at least one groove is attached to the hole. An underwater sensor characterized by being set lower than the pressure resistance. 4. The underwater sensor according to claim 3, wherein the pressure resistance of the stopper is adjusted based on the size or number of the groove formed in the stopper.