RU206765U1 - A controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of underwater technology, namely, to remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicles (ROV) designed for search, rescue, monitoring and other operations in water areas remote from the coastline at significant distances. A controlled device is proposed for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water, including the surface part of the device containing a power source, an electrical equipment unit with a radio module located in it, a satellite navigation system unit, an underwater part of the device, which is a remote-controlled unmanned underwater vehicle, the surface part of the device connected to the underwater part with a cable-cable, characterized in that the above-water part of the device is made in the form of a floating platform with anchor winches placed on it, including a removable waterproof case, buoyancy blocks, a winch with a cable-cable, a docking unit that provides a rigid connection to the underwater and the surface parts when the device moves to the work site, the underwater part of the device, which is a remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle, is made with rotary thrusters. The technical result is to increase the energy efficiency of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of underwater technology, namely, to remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicles (ROV) designed for search, rescue, monitoring and other operations in water areas remote from the coastline at significant distances.

A complex of remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle is known (patent RU 130292 U1, publ. 20.07.2013, IPC B63C 11/49, G01V 8/00), containing an onboard part installed on a supply vessel, connected by a cable-cable with an outboard underwater part, and including a surface a module containing an information display unit, a power supply unit, a hydroacoustic information processing unit, a video and hydroacoustic information display unit, a control panel, an antenna for an underwater positioning system, a cable-cable on a cable view with a current collector, the underwater part of the complex is made in the form of a remote-controlled underwater vehicle module , which contains a supporting frame with a buoyancy unit, the underwater part is equipped with television cameras, lighting sources and a transponder beacon of the underwater positioning system, a sonar, a navigation unit, a distribution unit, propellers, a manipulator, while the underwater part contains at least five propellers, horizontal movers arranged in a vector scheme, an inclined platform containing at least one video camera and / or a lamp, the underwater part contains at least two video cameras.

The disadvantage of the proposed complex can be considered the increased complexity of maintenance and implementation of the complex operation, increased energy consumption, as well as a significant risk of damage to the underwater vehicle on board during its descent and ascent, due to the fact that the onboard part of the complex is located on the support vessel.

Also known is the technological complex "Abyssal-3" for deep-sea exploration (patent RU 106965 U1, publ. a cable with a towed outboard part of the complex, and the onboard part is connected to the ship launching and lifting device, the shipboard equipment of the satellite radio navigation system and the shipboard equipment of the hydroacoustic navigation system and includes a control unit for the operation of the outboard part of the complex, a measurement data collection unit and a data processing and recording unit, when the outboard part of the complex is made in the form of a multi-link branched modular scheme and includes a submerged module towed by a carrier vessel on a cable-rope, as well as a hydroacoustic module connected to it by means of cables-cables, equipped with a block of neutral buoyancy, and a photo-television module, which are towed by the submersion module on different remote from the seabed, determined by the ratio h1> h2, where h1 is the altitude of the hydroacoustic module towing over the seabed, h1 = 40 ÷ 50 m; h2 - towing altitude of the photo-television module, h2 = 3 ÷ 10 m, while the submersion module is made with the possibility of docking with the photo-television module into a single module at the stage of output (reception) of the photo-television module behind (on) the side of the carrier vessel and contains a power supply unit for the outboard part complex, an underwater winch with a control unit for the position of the photo and television module relative to the bottom during shooting and docking, a submersion module with a photo television module, an underwater electronics unit (controller) for preprocessing data from the photo television module, an echo sounder-altimeter, a pressure sensor, digital TV cameras equipped with lamps and an interface unit for the integration of information flows of the hydroacoustic module and the photo-television module with subsequent data transmission to the onboard unit via a communication channel made in the form of a fiber-optic load-carrying cable-cable.

The disadvantage of the complex is the increased labor intensity of work, increased energy consumption due to the fact that the onboard part is located on the carrier vessel. The submersible module is also towed by the carrier vessel throughout the entire operation time of the complex, which limits the possibility of automation of work and reduces the useful time of the complex operation due to the need for periodic refueling of the towing vessel.

The closest in technical essence, taken as a prototype, is a modular autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle "Oceanica" (patent RU 193287 U1, publ. 10/22/2019, IPC B63G 8/00, B63H 25/00, B63C 11/48), containing a plastic case with sealed modules placed in it, the cases of which are made of radio-transparent material, while the said modules are equipped with their own power sources and electronic equipment with radio modules that combine the electronic equipment of all modules into a single wireless information and control network, with the possibility of interconnecting the device with the control panel located on the escort vehicle or directly at the operator, while additionally a surface module containing a power source, a wired communication unit, a radio module, a satellite navigation system unit, electromechanical equipment for moving the module along the water surface is introduced into it, and the surface module is connected to the supply The other part of the apparatus is a wired communication line, and the radio module of the surface of the apparatus is connected to the above-mentioned control panel.

The disadvantage of the selected prototype is the complexity of using the apparatus when performing work at great depths in view of the complication of the process of receiving and returning the cable-cable due to the use of a winder-free system when lifting and lowering the apparatus. Also, when the complex is moved, the underwater part is damaged against the bottom relief due to the fact that the surface module does not provide for the possibility of a rigid coupling with the underwater vehicle. The complex uses a propulsion system for positioning the surface part, which leads to additional fuel consumption when the vehicle is kept at the reached point in the water area. This circumstance lowers the energy efficiency of the complex as a whole.

The technical problem to be solved is the creation of an effective controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water in water areas remote from the coastline for considerable distances.

The technical result is to increase the energy efficiency of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water includes the surface part of the device containing a power source, an electrical equipment unit with a radio module located in it, a satellite navigation system unit, an underwater part of the device, which is a remotely controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle, the surface of the device is connected to the underwater part by a cable-cable, while the surface of the device is made in the form of a light floating platform with anchor winches placed on it, including a removable waterproof case, buoyancy blocks, a winch with a cable-cable, a block docking, providing a rigid connection of the underwater and surface parts when the device moves to the work site, the underwater part of the device, which is a remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle, is made with rotary thrusters. Thanks to the combination of these features of the device, an increase in energy efficiency is achieved both during the search, rescue, and monitoring operations themselves under water, and during the operations that support them (transportation, immersion-lifting).

In the description of this technical solution, the following terms are used:

Energy efficiency is the efficient (rational) use of energy resources. Using less energy to ensure the same level of productivity while performing work.

Positioning system - a system designed to hold a floating platform in a given position or area.

To clarify the technical essence of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water, consider the drawings:

figure 1 is a side view of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water;

figure 2 is a side view of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water (with a removable waterproof case installed);

figure 3 is a front view of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water;

figure 4 is a front view of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water (with a removable waterproof case installed);

figure 5 is a top view of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water (with a removable waterproof case installed),

where 1 is the power source; 2 - cable-rope; 3 - a winch with a cable-rope; 4 - TNLA; 5 - removable waterproof case; 6 - blocks of buoyancy; 7 - TNLA docking block; 8 - block of electrical equipment; 9 - anchor winches; 10 - rotary thrusters; 11 - floating platform.

The onboard part of the controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water is located on a floating platform 11, on which a light removable waterproof case 5 is installed, which houses a power source 1, a winch 3 with a cable-rope 2, and an electrical equipment unit 8. This solution protects equipment from water ingress, while not weighing down the device, simplifies its installation, maintenance and transportation, which in general provides an increase in energy efficiency.

Anchor winches 9 are provided in the device. This ensures the positioning of the floating platform 11 at a point, excludes its drift by the current or wind when working under water.

In the design of the floating platform 11, buoyancy blocks 6 are introduced, placed symmetrically with respect to the planes of symmetry of the platform. The proposed arrangement of buoyancy blocks 6 increases the seaworthiness of the floating platform 11, such as stability and buoyancy, protects the ROV 4 from damage during transportation over land, which increases the reliability of the device as a whole.

Under the bottom of the floating platform 11, at the point of descent and ascent of the ROV 4, there is a docking system for the ROV 7, equipped with clamps for reliable connection of the ROV 4 with the floating platform 11.

Rotary thrusters 10 are introduced into the design of ROV 4. Rotation of thrusters 10 increases the maneuverability of the underwater vehicle, accelerates the submersion and ascent of the submersible by increasing the vertical speed, moves forward and backward, and makes a turn around the vertical and horizontal axes of the vehicle.

A controlled device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water works as follows:

The floating platform 11 with the TNPA 4 docked with it is lowered into the water from the shore. Power supply of TNLA 4, electrical unit 8, winch with cable-rope 3 is carried out from power source 1. Connection of TNLA 4 with equipment of floating platform 11 is provided by flexible cable-rope 2, through which operator commands are transmitted to TNLA 4. Control commands are sent to the device by the operator remotely using radio signals.

The movement of the device on the surface of the water is carried out by means of rotary propellers 10 TNPA 4, and the device is in a fixed position under the bottom of the floating platform 11 due to the docking system TNLA 7. The command to move is given remotely. A controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water carries out movement autonomously, receiving the coordinates of the point from the satellite navigation system located in the electrical equipment block 8 of the floating platform 11. At the same time, due to the proposed location of the buoyancy blocks 6, the maximum thrust of the rotary thrusters 10 TNPA 4 due to the lack of water flow shading effect.

When the device reaches the specified area of the water area, the operator switches to manual control.

The positioning of the floating platform 11 is carried out by anchoring using the remote control of the anchor winches 9. After the cessation of underwater work, the anchoring is carried out by the remote control of the anchor winches 9.

Descent to depth and ascent of TNLA 4 is performed by a winch with a cable-rope 3. When receiving a command to descend from the operator, the locks of the docking unit TNLA 7 disconnect the apparatus from the floating platform 11. Descent to a depth, movement in the water occurs due to the operation of rotary propellers 10 TNPA 4 The process is controlled and performed by the operator remotely. In this case, the winch 3 spins the cable-cable 2, which ensures the achievement of the required depth and prevents the cable-cable 2 from breaking from the ROV 4. The operation of the ROV 4 at the depth is carried out by the operator remotely, and commands are transmitted via radio signals to the electrical equipment unit 8 of the floating platform 11, and on TNLA 4 are transmitted via cable-rope 2. Lifting of the apparatus from the depth is carried out by reverse rotation of the winch with cable-cable 3, during which the cable-cable 2 is wound onto the drum of the winch 3. In this case, the rotary propellers 10 TNPA 4 can be used only for positioning the apparatus relative to the floating platform 11 for accurate docking with it using a docking unit TNLA 7. When the vehicle approaches the docking unit TNLA 7, it is fixed under the bottom of the floating platform 11.

The claimed technical solution makes it possible to create a controllable device for conducting search, rescue, and monitoring operations under water due to the use of a simple and lightweight floating platform as a carrier of the onboard part and TNLA, which increases mobility and reliability, providing improved operational characteristics, which ultimately , leads to an increase in the energy efficiency of the device when performing work. The use of the floating platform as a carrier of the onboard part and the ROV, as well as the possibility of autonomous movement of the device due to the rotary thrusters of the ROV docked with the platform, leads to an increase in the energy efficiency of the device and allows the proposed device to be used for search, rescue, monitoring and other works in water areas, remote from the coastline at significant distances with less energy consumption.

Claims (2)

1. A controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water, including the surface part of the device containing a power source, an electrical unit with a radio module located in it, a satellite navigation system unit, an underwater part of the device, which is a remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle, a surface part the device is connected to the underwater part by a cable-cable, characterized in that the above-water part of the device is made in the form of a floating platform with anchor winches placed on it, including a removable waterproof case, buoyancy blocks, a winch with a cable-cable, a docking unit providing a rigid connection underwater and surface parts when the device moves to the work site, the underwater part of the device, which is a remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle, is made with rotary thrusters. 2. A controlled device for conducting search, rescue, monitoring operations under water according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the device contains a satellite navigation system unit capable of radio communication with a remote control panel.

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