JPS6331806A - Underwater observation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable easy and safe underwater observation and sight-seeing by applying a submersible body having wheels and the like, giving buoyancy to the submersible body and providing a float capable of mounting on the submersible body and a sinking depth restriction device between the submersible body and the float. CONSTITUTION:An underwater observation device 'A' comprises a submersible body 1, a float 2 and a sinking depth restriction device 3. And the underwater observation device 'A' is made capable of travelling on a land by the help of wheels 4, 9 and 50 fitted to the outside of the submersible body 1. In this case, the float 2 is placed on the submersible body 1. On the other hand, an operator on a marine operation seat 26 operates a propulsive machine 45, thereby propelling the underwater observation device 'A' at sea. Thereafter, a ballast tank 9 is purged of air at an object place, thereby sinking the submersible body 1. In this case, the operator on the submersible body 1 operates a screw 15 and a rudder 16, thereby moving the underwater observation device 'A' to a desired position. Also, the sinking depth of the submersible body 1 is restricted by the sinking depth restriction device 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an underwater observation device used for sightseeing or observation of shallow sea layers.

(Conventional Technology) The shallow depths of the sea are not only attracting attention as a new tourism resource, but are also being utilized for the cultivation of marine products.

When sightseeing or observing in such shallow waters, an observation window is installed at the bottom of a surface vessel.

There is a method that involves looking into the water through this observation window. Although this method allows anyone to easily and safely observe underwater, it is only possible to observe from approximately the surface of the water, and the purpose of sightseeing or observation cannot be fully achieved.

The underwater observation device of the present invention relates to an underwater observation device that can perform sightseeing or observation from underwater.

Conventionally, when sightseeing or observing a relatively shallow sea layer from underwater, sightseeing or observation was done by wearing diving equipment or by using a submersible that can freely navigate underwater. However, the former method requires diving skills and physical strength, which makes it difficult for everyone to use, and it is also dangerous. In the latter case, if the submersible malfunctions, there is a risk that it will sink to the bottom of the ocean, which would make rescue extremely difficult. There were disadvantages in that the submersible had to be hoisted onto land and the lifting work was complicated, and that getting on and off the submersible could only be done at sea with the submersible floating, which was dangerous.

(Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention) The present invention is an underwater observation device that eliminates the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art, that is, it is capable of sightseeing or observing the shallow sea layer from underwater without wearing diving equipment. However, even if the underwater observation device fails, there is no risk that the submersible part with the crew on board will sink to the sea floor, and it can be moved from sea to land and from land to sea on its own without the need for lifting work. The aim is to propose 46 new underwater observation devices that will allow passengers to board and disembark even on land.

(Means for solving the problems) In order to solve the above problems, the underwater observation device of the present invention includes:
The main body of the submersible part is equipped with wheels or caterpillars for traveling on land or under the sea at its outer lower part, and is equipped with an observation window and a watertight notch for allowing the crew to get inside;
A float part having sufficient buoyancy to suspend and support the diving part body in the submerged state, and a float part interposed between the diving part body and the float part to prevent the diving part main body from settling when the diving part main body sinks. The float part is configured to be mounted on the diving part main body when the diving part main body travels on land.

(Function) According to the above configuration, the main body of the diving section on which the occupant, i.e., the tourist or observer, boarded, is suspended and supported by the float section in the floating state via the descending depth regulating device when descending. , even if the buoyancy adjustment mechanism of the main body of the diving section malfunctions.

This prevents the main body of the submersible from sinking to the sea floor. In addition, the wheels or caterpillars installed on the outer lower part of the main body of the diving section can be used to utilize the slope of the coast.

Since it can be moved from sea to land or from land to sea using its own blade, there is no need for a lifting device unlike conventional ones for inspection and repair, and crew members can get on and off the submersible even on land. It is.

(Example) The following is an example in which the underwater observation device of the present invention was used for underwater tourism that can accommodate several tourists.
This will be explained with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, A indicates an underwater observation device according to the present invention, which is composed of a diving section main body 1, a float section 2, and a sedimentation depth regulating device 3. Diving part body 1 is 1
A passenger riding section 4 formed in a long cylindrical shape from front to back. A pair of left and right palast tanks 6 are provided on the outside of the passenger seating section 4 and along the left and right positions of the weight 5. It is composed of. The pallast tank 6 houses an air sac 8 in a non-watertight cylindrical tube 7, and expands the air sac 8 by supplying compressed air to the air sac 8. By discharging the seawater in the pantyhose tank 7, the buoyancy of the pantyhose tank 7 is increased, and by discharging the air in the pantyhose tank 7, seawater is injected into the pipe body 7, thereby increasing the buoyancy of the pantyhose tank 7. It is something that reduces The weight of a weight 5 for adjusting buoyancy is adjusted so that the diving part body 1 sinks when seawater is injected into the ballast tank 7 and floats up when the seawater in the ballast tank 7 is discharged. When the submersible section main body 1 rises to the surface, a portion of the crew riding section 4 above the water surface has a 1
A watertight hatch 9 is provided for the passengers (in this case tourists and the operator) to enter. lO is the main body of the diving part l
These are observation windows provided on the left and right walls and the front wall of the passenger boarding section 4 in FIG. Inside the passenger boarding section 4, there is a central passage 1.
Seats 12 for tourists are provided at the left and right positions narrowed from 1, and a seat 46 for the operator is provided at the front position (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In Figure 4,
13 is a staircase leading from the watertight hatch 9 to the central passage 11;
14 is an electric motor that drives the screw 15; 16 is a rudder; 17 is a batch IJ-, 1 for driving the electric motor;
Reference numeral 8 is an emergency compressed air cylinder that is used when the ventilation system or the compressed air supply system to the parast tank 6, which will be described later, breaks down. Reference numeral 49 indicates a pair of left and right wheels provided at the front of the outer lower part of the diving section body 1, and 50 indicates a pair of left and right wheels provided at the rear of the outer lower portion of the diving section main body 1. These wheels 49 and 50 are
Each is driven by a hydraulic motor. In particular, the pair of left and right wheels 49 can be hydraulically steered.

The driving of the wheels 49, 50 and the steering of the wheels 49 are controlled by a hydraulic control device provided in the cockpit 46 of the main body 1 of the diving section.

The float portion 2V'i, a pair of left and right floats 1911
9, and this pair of left and right floats 19. L9' is constituted by connecting beams 20, 21, 22, and 23 that are connected on the water surface in a juxtaposed state at approximately the same distance as the horizontal width of the submersible section main body 1. Connecting beam 20.21. and 22 are the left and right pairs of floats 19.19, which are connected in an arch shape at the front, the center front, and the center radial direction, and the connecting beam n is the pair of left and right floats 19.19. The rear parts are connected and the upper side is formed on the floor. 24 is a dynamic crab unit that includes an internal combustion engine-driven hydraulic pressure generating device, an air compressor, and a generator arranged on a float 19% 25 is a dynamic crab unit 24
This is an air blower that is driven by the power generated by the generator. 26 is the maritime cockpit.

Next, the sedimentation depth regulating device 3 will be explained. The sedimentation depth regulating device rIIt is interposed between the float portion 2 and the diving portion main body 1 to regulate the sedimentation depth of the diving portion main body 1 when the melt water portion main body 1 sinks.

In this embodiment, the front link mechanism 29 is interposed between the lower side of the connecting beam 21 in the float part 2 and the plaquette 28 provided above the central part of the crew riding part 4 in the main body 1 of the submersible part.
A rear link device $31 is interposed between a bracket 30 provided below the connecting beam 22 in the float section 2 and above the rear portion of the passenger riding section 4 in the main body 1 of the submersible section. Each of the front link mechanisms 29 has one end connected to the connecting beam 21.
A pair of left and right rod members 32.33fj pivotally connected to the lower side of the
r--equipped with an upper link part 34, one end of which is pivotally connected to the bracket 28, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the rod member 32 of the upper link part, and then a pair of left and right rod members 3.
5.36 and a lower link part 37.

Further, the rear link mechanism 31 Vi includes an upper link portion 40 having a pair of left and right rod member wings 39, each having one end pivotally connected to the lower side of the connecting beam 22, and an upper link portion 40 having one end thereof pivotally connected to the bracket 30, respectively. The other end is connected to the upper link part 40.
A pair of left and right rod members 4 pivotally connected to the rod members 38 and 39 of
1.42.

The upper link portion of the front link mechanism 29 and the upper link portion 40 of the rear link mechanism 31. The lower link part 37 of the front link mechanism 29 and the lower link part 43 of the rear link mechanism 31 are configured to have the same length, and the connecting beam 21
The distance between the pivot portion of the connecting beam 22 and the distance between the brackets 28 and 30 is set to be the same. 44 sets the distance between the pivot portions of the upper link portion 34 and the lower link portion 37 in the front link mechanism 29 and the pivot portions of the upper link portion 40 and the lower link portion 43 in the rear link mechanism 31 to the above-mentioned distance. It is a link to maintain. According to the sedimentation depth regulating device 3 configured in this way, the diving section main body 1 is connected to the left and right floats 19 .
Between the state in which the submersible part body 1 floats between 19 (the state shown in Fig. 1) and the state in which the submersible part main body 1 descends (the state shown in Fig. 4), the horizontal posture of the submersible part main body 1 is maintained during the descent or ascent. It will be done. Furthermore, since the left and right pairs of rod members 322, 35, 36, 38 and 39%, and 41 and 42 are connected to each other without changing their relative positions, the floating position of the submersible body 1 is fixed. , and is regulated at a predetermined position between the left and right floats 19.19, so that when the submersible section main body 1 floats up, it is prevented from colliding with the flow 119.19 of the float section 2.

Brackets 51 are provided in front of the left and right floats 9, 9 of the float section 2, respectively, and engage with the upper side of the submersible section main body 1 when the submersible section main body 1 floats. 52 is
These brackets are provided at the rear of the left and right floats 9.9 of the float section 2, and engage with the upper side of the diving section main body 1 when the diving section main body 1 floats. Diving part main body 1 is wheel 4
9 and 50, when traveling on land, the float part 2 is connected to the submersible part main body l via these brackets 51 and 52.
It is placed on a shelf.

In the case of this embodiment, the front link mechanism 29 functioning as a part of the sinking depth regulating device 3 is used as an air supply/discharge path to the crew riding section 4 in the main body 1 of the diving section. ing. That is, the pair of left and right rod members 3 of the upper link part 34 and lower link part 37 of the front link mechanism 29
3.32 and 36.35 are each composed of hollow tubes.
The respective pivot parts of the rod members 32, 35, 33, and 36 are formed into rotary joints to allow air circulation. Further, the pivot portion between the rod member 35 and the bracket 28 and the connecting portion between the rod member 36 and the bracket 28 are also
The rotary joint is formed so that air can enter and exit the passenger riding section 4 through the hollow tube 6. The pivot portion of the rod member 32 to the connecting beam 21 is also formed into a rotary cylinder, so that air can be drawn at full speed from the blower 25 into the hollow tube of the rod member 32. The hollow tube of the rod member 33 is open to the atmosphere at the pivot point to the connecting beam 21. Such a configuration blows fresh air from the blower 5 through the rod member 32 and the rod member 35t into the passenger seating section 4 of the submersible body 1, and removes dirty air from inside the passenger seating section 4. This allows the gas to be released into the atmosphere through the rod members 36 and 33. However, it is not an essential part of the present invention that the sedimentation depth regulating device 3 also serves as an air supply/discharge path to the passenger riding section 4. Of course, air may be supplied and discharged to and from the passenger seating area using a separate hose.

・Although not shown in the drawings, the rear link mechanism 31 of the descent depth regulating device 3 is supplied with pressurized oil from the movable crab knit 24 provided on the float section 2 to the diving section main body 1.

Piping and power transmission cables for transmitting compressed air 2 and electric power are installed. This pressurized oil can then be used as electricity, and the electricity can be used for lighting, etc. Furthermore, the rear link mechanism 31 in the sedimentation depth regulating device 3 includes:
A communication cable is installed for communication between the marine cockpit 26 and the cockpit 46 of the submersible body 1.

45 is a propulsion device provided at the rear of the float section 2.

Although not shown, the submersible section main body 1 and the float section 2
A releasable coupling device is provided between the coupling beams 20 and 22 to fix the diving section main body 1 in a floating state,
By connecting these parts, the diving part main body 1 and the float part 2 are prevented from moving up and down relative to each other when the submersible part main body 1 floats and sails or when a crew member gets on the submersible part main body 1.

Next, the action will be explained.

It is possible to travel on land. At this time, the float section 2 is mounted on the diving section main body 2. The occupant gets on and off the diving section main body 1 in this state. After the crew gets on board, underwater observation device A is run along the slope of the coast and enters the sea. Then, the operator in the marine cockpit 26 uses the propulsion device 45 to move the underwater observation device A to the destination point. Next, the air in the ballast tank 9 is removed and the diving body 1551 is allowed to sink (the state shown in FIG. 4). In this state, the operator on board the diving body 1 drives the screw 15 and the rudder 16 with the electric motor 14. Operate underwater observation device A? It can be moved to any location and tourists can tour the underwater world. In the state where the diving part main body 1 is submerged.

The operator in the cockpit 26 of the float section 2 and the main body of the diving section 1
Needless to say, pilots communicate with each other to avoid danger.

To float the submersible section main body 1 and move it on land, the above operation is performed in reverse.

The sinking depth of the diving section main body 1 will never exceed the depth allowed by the sinking depth regulating device 3. Therefore, even if the buoyancy adjustment mechanism including the ballast tank 6 of the submersible body 1 fails, the submersible body 1 will not sink to the bottom of the sea, and its rescue can be carried out relatively easily.

Of course, passengers can get on and off the diving body 1 at sea if necessary.

In the above embodiment, the sedimentation depth regulating device 3 has a link structure, but it is of course possible to use a wire lobe or the like.

Further, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4, a winch device 47 is provided on the connecting beam 20 of the float section 2, and the cable end of the wire rope 48 pulled out from the winch device 47 is connected to the submersible section main body 1. If the winch device 47 is used to pull up the diving section main body 1 when the buoyancy adjustment mechanism fails, rescue can be carried out extremely easily. In this case, the winch device 1147 is configured to be remote controllable from the cockpit 46 of the diving section main body 1, and when the diving section main body 1 is lowered for underwater sightseeing, the depth adjustment of the diving section main body 1 is controlled by the winch device 147. By doing so, the depth adjustment of the diving part main body 1 can be carried out more quickly in the cockpit 46 of the diving part main body 1 compared to the depth adjustment using the ballast tank 6. This allows for quick evasive action.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the wheels 49,50 are of course scaled in the form of caterpillars.

Above, an embodiment of the underwater observation device 1- of the present invention, which was implemented for sightseeing with more than 10 people on board, has been described. Of course, it is also possible to make it small and use it for observing imaginal fish and shellfish.

(effect) In any case, the underwater observation device according to the present invention is.

Although it is possible to sightsee or observe the shallow sea layer from underwater without wearing diving equipment, even if the buoyancy adjustment mechanism of the submersible body fails, the submersible body will not be affected by the sinking depth regulating device. Because they are suspended from the seabed and maintained in the shallow sea layer without sinking to the seabed, they can be easily rescued, and underwater tourism and observation can be carried out extremely safely. Furthermore, since it can be moved from land to sea and from sea to land by itself without requiring a lifting device, inspection and maintenance and crew boarding and alighting can be performed on land.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the underwater observation device according to the present invention, FIG.
The figure is a plan view of the same, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X--X in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the main body of the diving section when it is lowered. Underwater observation device; A, float part; 2° sedimentation depth regulating device 3. Wheels, 49.50 No. 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] The main body of the submersible part is equipped with wheels or caterpillars for running on the ground or on the seabed at the outer lower part of the submersible part, and is equipped with an observation window and a watertight hatch for boarding the crew. It consists of a float section with sufficient buoyancy to carry the submersible in suspension, and a settling depth regulating device that is interposed between the submersible section body and the float section and regulates the submergence depth of the submersible section body when the submersible section body sinks. ,
An underwater observation device characterized in that the float section is configured to be mounted on the diving section main body when the diving section main body travels on land.