RU2809825C1 - Bathometer for water sampling - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: marine technology.

SUBSTANCE: bathometer for taking water samples is disclosed, containing a cylindrical body, covers located at the ends of the body and equipped with outer cylindrical projections; O-rings at the points of contact between the covers and the body; elastic harness with a reserve of elasticity; fishing lines fixed at one end to the cylindrical protrusions of the covers and equipped at the other end with loops for fixing on the actuator of the underwater vehicle; taps for draining water and admitting air; holders secured with clamps to the body. In this case, the elastic bundles are placed symmetrically on both sides of the outside of the housing, connected to the covers using flexible fastening strings, brought into a stretched state due to fishing lines passing through the holes in the holders and in the cylindrical protrusions of the covers, and the inner part of the covers, that is in contact with the sealing rings, has the shape of a spherical layer.

EFFECT: invention makes it possible to increase the purity of water samples in bottles and improve the sealing of the sample from the external environment.

2 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The bathometer is designed to provide sampling from various depth levels in marine and freshwater bodies. The device may be part of oceanographic research equipment such as submersible probes, remotely operated or autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicles.

The invention can be used to take samples of sea or fresh water, with their subsequent delivery on board a ship for the purpose of subsequent analysis. A similar problem arises, for example, when studying hydrochemical and biochemical indicators used to assess the ecological state of marine and inland water bodies.

The invention improves the isolation of the sample from the external environment and, thus, increases the purity of the sample taken.

The advantages are achieved by placing an elastic band on the outside of the bottle and making the inside of the lids in the form of a spherical layer rather than a truncated cone. The lids of the bathometer are hermetically sealed by contracting the stretched elastic cord. In this case, the water sample, currently located in the cavity of the bathometer, is cut off from the external space. The stretched elastic band, which ensures the slamming of the lids, is located outside the bottlemeter body and does not come into contact with the water sample. The internal surfaces of the covers have the shape of a spherical layer, due to which, when interacting with the sealing rings of the bathometer, reliable sealing of the sample in the cavity of the bathometer is ensured.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of marine technology, namely to hydrological instruments for taking water samples from various depths of sea and freshwater bodies. For repeated water sampling, bathometers can be combined into a cassette integrated into a ship's environmental complex used in oceanographic, limnological and hydrobiological expeditions. Possible areas of application of such equipment are environmental monitoring, scientific research, marine geological exploration, design and survey work, etc.

Bathometers, which provide water sampling from a given depth, are a widely used technique. Such devices are in demand in various industries, for example, for taking liquid samples when studying physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in water bodies, tanks and pipelines.

The main technical problem solved when taking water samples in bottles is the selection of a representative, uncontaminated sample from a given depth, and the subsequent delivery of the sample to the vessel for research. In this case, the condition must be met that the sample taken does not come into contact with the environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

The design of a universal water sampler (utility model RU No. 73480), intended for sampling in water bodies, is known. The device contains a container, a weight, a rubber stopper and belts, which allows the container to be lowered to the required depth, where the plug is pulled out using a rope, water is drawn into the container, after which, using a belt, the sampler is removed from the water and the sample is packaged.

The significant disadvantages of this device are the insignificant depth of immersion and the impossibility of closing the container after taking a sample, as a result of which, when lifted, the sample is mixed with liquid from other layers.

There is a known design of a water sampler (utility model RU No. 123156), intended for obtaining water samples from various reservoirs. The device contains a container with cables in the form of a hollow cylinder, the bottom of which is equipped with a valve with a lid. The latter is equipped with a rubber gasket and a spring with a fixing movable tooth.

The operation of the device boils down to the fact that after diving to a given depth, along a marked cable, through the interaction of the cable and the valve, the device lid slams shut, cutting off the water sample. The resulting sample is lifted to the surface using a cable for analysis.

The device has a number of disadvantages.

When rising to the surface, the volume of the sample taken increases due to a decrease in external hydrostatic pressure and an increase in temperature, which causes depressurization of the bottle and sample filtration. This leads to a change in its original composition and, as a result, distorts its native (natural, natural) properties. The sampling and lifting of the sample is carried out with constant contact of the sample water with a rubber gasket. The device allows you to obtain samples for simple studies, for example, to study suspensions in the water of a reservoir, but is not suitable for precise and multicomponent studies.

A known tipping bottle for point sampling of water in shallow reservoirs (utility model RU No. 170154), containing in the design two holes for water inlet, equipped with removable rings; sealing rubber gaskets; internal lattice partition; two balls located inside the body and designed to close the holes for water ingress. One of the balls is weighted, and the other has positive buoyancy. After taking a water sample, the balls close the holes in the body. The weighted ball is made of lead and covered with soft rubber. It covers the bottom hole in the housing. The second ball is made of a lightweight material, such as syntactic, gas-filled plastic, and covers the top hole.

The disadvantage of the device is the constant contact of the sample water during collection and transportation with the materials of the balls - soft rubber and plastic. Because of this, the described device does not allow for the selection of highly pure samples required when performing complex multicomponent studies.

A device for collecting water samples is known, called a bathometer designed by Sheila Niskina. The operation of this bathometer is described in detail in the publication: “Guide to hydrological work in the oceans and seas”, State Oceanographic Institute named after N.N. Zubova; Chapter 7., Taking water samples from different depths, section 7.2. "Niskin bathometers and rosettes"; third edition, M., 2016.

Due to its simplicity and reliability of design, the Niskin bathometer is currently the most commonly used hydrological instrument for collecting water samples. For more efficient use in modern models, the closing of bottlemeters located on an underwater vehicle is carried out using electromechanical devices of the actuator, controlled by an electronic unit that monitors the readings of the pressure sensor.

The most complete description of sampling using a Niskin bathometer is given in the article: Stepochkin I.E.; Automatic seawater sampler from a given depth; Underwater Research and Robotics, 2022, No. 1 (39); from 80-85. In terms of the technical solution being created, the Niskin design bathometer is considered as a prototype.

The Niskin bathometer is a cylindrical plastic vessel with two lids, top and bottom, as well as a tap for draining the collected water. The covers of the device, before taking a sample, are in the open state, freely allowing the flow of water through the inside of the bathometer as the vessel sinks to a depth. For reliable and hermetically sealed closure, the open lids of the bottle from the inside of the body are tied together with a latex rope, with a large margin of elasticity. The covers are fixed in the open state using fishing lines, the loops of which are attached to the actuator of the underwater vehicle. To close the lids at the desired depth, various methods can be used.

The first is when a load is lowered along the cable, which, with its impact, activates the trigger mechanism (usually consisting of a bracket pressed by a spring).

The second is when, when placing the bathometer on a submersible vehicle or submersible probe, various electromechanical actuator devices are used. As a result of operation, the lids are released from the holding lines and the elastic cord stretched inside the bathometer is reduced, the lids are closed and the water sample is cut off from the environment. Sealing and protection of the sample from contact with the external environment is carried out when closing the lids, due to the alignment of their internal conical surface with the sealing rings of the body.

The known solution has a number of significant disadvantages: The main disadvantage is the long-term contact of the elastic band material with the selected sample. An underwater vehicle or probe may contain a large number of bathometers (devices are known that include up to 24 pieces). Therefore, the process of collecting samples from all bathometers from different depths takes a long time. Then the apparatus is lifted onto the ship, the bottles are removed, and water samples from each bottle are drained into special containers for research. The listed processes occur with constant and direct contact of the bundle material with the sample. Prolonged contact of rubber with sea water (an aggressive liquid) negatively affects the purity of the sample; rubber particles migrate into the water, as a result of which the nativeness of the sample is not preserved for high-precision and multi-component research. Moreover, the very nature of the operation of the rubber band - stretching - contributes to the appearance of microscopic cracks on the surface of the rubber, which increases, especially with prolonged contact with sea water, the migration of rubber particles into the sample.

Another disadvantage of this device is associated with the possibility of water leaking from the external environment into the selected sample. The inner side of the lids has the shape of a truncated cone. When closing the lids, there is often a slight angular movement, which is caused by the non-uniform resistance of the water when the lid is closed. As a result, there is an uneven, loose fit of the caps to the sealing rings on the bottlemeter body. The consequence of this may be uneven compression of the covers along the perimeter of the sealing rings and the leakage of water into the bathometer cavity from the external environment, which is critical for subsequent high-precision and multi-component analysis.

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

The problem solved when implementing the proposed technical solution is to obtain representative samples by preserving their native properties, to enable high-precision and multi-component research.

The solution to this problem is achieved:

- due to the placement of an elastic band outside the bathometer body, which eliminates contact of rubber with sample water;

- manufacturing the internal surfaces of the bottle caps in the form of a spherical layer, due to which the surfaces tightly adhere to the sealing rings even with a slight displacement of the caps when they are slammed.

- placing more than one elastic harness on each side of the bathometer body.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The proposed technical solution formulates the main distinctive features of the bathometer device.

The bathometer for water sampling contains a cylindrical body and covers located at the ends of the body and equipped with external cylindrical projections. At the points of contact between the lids and the body there are sealing rings that ensure sealing of the cavity of the bottle when the lids are slammed shut. The force aimed at closing the lids is created by means of elastic cords stretched between the lids and attached to them using flexible strings. Elastic bands have a sufficient supply of elasticity. Keeping the covers in their original (open) state is ensured by means of fishing lines attached on one side to the cylindrical protrusions of the covers and equipped with loops at the ends on the other side for fixation on the actuator of the underwater vehicle. The bathometer body is equipped with taps for draining water and air intake, as well as holders secured to the body with clamps.

Elastic bundles are placed symmetrically on both sides outside the housing, brought into a stretched state due to fishing lines fixed on the bottle caps and passing through holes in the holders and in the cylindrical protrusions of the caps, and the inner part of the caps, in contact with the sealing rings, has the shape of a spherical layer. There can be more than one number of elastic strands on each side of the body.

Sign: “elastic cords are placed symmetrically on both sides outside the body, brought into a stretched state due to fishing lines fixed on the bottlemeter covers and passing through holes in the holders and in the cylindrical protrusions of the covers,” allows the stretched elastic band to be placed outside the bottlemeter body, and not allow constant contact of the tourniquet material with the water sample.

The sign: “the inner part of the caps, in contact with the sealing rings, has the shape of a spherical layer”, allows you to ensure alignment of the surface of the caps when interacting with the sealing rings of the bathometer, to ensure reliable sealing of the sample in the bathometer body, preventing contact of the water sample with the environment.

The sign: “the number of elastic strands on each side of the body is more than one” allows, if necessary, to increase the force of pressing the covers.

The implementation of the invention makes it possible to obtain representative samples of increased purity, due to the preservation of their native properties, for the possibility of carrying out high-precision and multi-component research.

The proposed technical solution makes it possible, if necessary, to increase the force of pressing the lids, while eliminating prolonged contact of the rubber with the sample water. Reliable interaction of the inside of the lids with the sealing rings of the housing is ensured, thereby eliminating leakage and contact of sample water with the environment.

Thus, the sampling bottle receives a new quality - the selected sample has increased purity (nativity), which is especially important for multi-component and high-precision studies, when the presence of even the smallest foreign particles can change the course of the study. Therefore, changes in the design of the bathometer do not clearly follow from the prior art for a specialist and are not based on changes, for example, in quantitative characteristics.

The proposed technical solution has new properties: - elimination of constant contact of the elastic rope with the water of the selected sample;

- exclusion of seepage and mixing of the environment with the water of the sample;

- the ability, if necessary, to increase the tension of the lids.

Taking into account the above, we can conclude that the claimed technical solution meets the criterion of “inventive step”.

The proposed technical solution has distinctive features from the prototype, a new design of elements and new connections between elements, and therefore meets the “novelty” criterion.

The given properties do not coincide with the properties that are distinctive features in known solutions, and are not the sum of these properties, which allows us to consider the proposed solution to meet the “significant differences” criterion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by drawings, Figure 1 - Figure 5, where:

Figure 1 shows the sampling bottle with the lids closed.

Figure 2 shows the placement of the cover in the housing and the interaction of the inner surface of the cover, made in the form of a spherical layer, with the sealing ring of the housing.

Figure 3 shows the sampling bottle in 3D, with the lids closed.

Figure 4 shows the sampling bottle in 3D, with the lids open.

Figure 5 - displays a bottlemeter for sampling, with the lids pressed with increased force (with more than one number of elastic strands on each side of the body).

1. Body;

2. Outer cylindrical protrusion of the cover;

3. Cover;

4. Fastening string;

5. Elastic tourniquet;

6. Fixing line;

7. Holders with clamps;

8. Loop of fixing line;

9. Tap for draining water;

10. O-ring;

11. Air intake valve.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION.

A bathometer for water sampling, (Figures: 1 and 2), contains: a cylindrical sealed body 1, a cover 3 with cylindrical protrusions 2 placed on its ends, fastening strings 4 for connecting an elastic harness 5 with covers 3, fixing lines 6, holders 7 , placed using clamps on the bathometer. The loops 8 of the fixing lines 6 are designed to be secured to the hooks of the actuator, ensuring their release at the right time. Tap 9 for draining water, sealing rings 10, tap for air inlet 11.

The internal parts of the covers 3 have the shape of a spherical layer, therefore, even with angular displacement (skew) of the covers 3 when pressed, the contact of the sealing ring 10 with the spherical surface of the cover occurs along the entire circumference.

Opening the covers 3 is done manually when placing the bottle on the underwater vehicle. The fishing lines 6 are fixed in the holes in the outer part of the cylindrical protrusions of the covers 2, while the ends of the fishing lines are equipped with loops 8, which are held by elements (hooks) of the electromechanical device of the underwater vehicle (for example, with an electromagnetic switch).

Moreover, the fishing lines 6, due to the placement of loops 8 on the hooks of the electromagnetic switch, fix the covers 3 in the open state.

In this case, the force aimed at closing the lids occurs due to additional stretching of the elastic rubber bands 5.

Figure 2 shows the interaction of the inner surface of the cover, made in the form of a spherical layer, with the sealing ring 10.

Figure 3 shows the sampling bottle in 3D view, after closing the lids 3 and sampling has been completed.

Figure 4 shows the sampling bottle in 3D, with the lids open (in its original state).

Figure 5 shows the bottlemeter in 3D image, for sampling, with the lids pressed with increased force (with more than one number of elastic strands on each arm).

The device works as follows.

The bathometers are placed on the underwater vehicle. Currently, there are devices that allow you to place up to 24 bathometers on them. The lids of the bathometers 3 are opened, while the rubber bands 5 receive additional tension due to the tension of the fishing lines 6 and the fixation of the loops 8 in the devices of the electromagnetic switches of the underwater vehicle.

The underwater vehicle with bathometers moves from the deck over the side of the vessel, after which, as a result of etching the cable, it begins to dive. In this case, water flows freely through the cavities of the bathometers, changing depending on the depth of immersion.

When the required depth is reached, the control device of the underwater vehicle sends a command to the actuator, which releases the loops of 8 fixing lines. Covers 3, under the action of the tightening force of stretched elastic cords 5, are closed on the body of the bathometer 1, hermetically isolating the sample from the environment. Reliable insulation is ensured by the interaction of the internal spherical surfaces of the covers 3, made in the form of a spherical layer, with the sealing rings 10.

To increase the force of pressing the covers 3, the number of elastic harnesses 5 on each side of the bottle can be more than one, which allows you to adjust the force of pressing the covers.

The sampling process can continue until all bottles located in the submersible are filled with samples.

After taking a water sample into the last bottlemeter, the apparatus is lifted onto the ship and placed on the deck, where the samples are drained from the bottlemeters and the results are subsequently studied.

Claims (2)

1. A bathometer for collecting water samples, containing a cylindrical body, covers located at the ends of the body and equipped with external cylindrical projections; O-rings at the points of contact between the covers and the body; elastic harness with a reserve of elasticity; fishing lines fixed at one end to the cylindrical protrusions of the covers and equipped at the other end with loops for fixing on the actuator of the underwater vehicle; taps for draining water and admitting air; holders secured with clamps to the body; characterized in that the elastic bundles are placed symmetrically on both sides outside the housing, connected to the covers using flexible fastening strings, brought into a stretched state due to fishing lines passing through the holes in the holders and in the cylindrical protrusions of the covers, with the inner part of the covers in contact with the sealing rings, has the shape of a spherical layer. 2. Bathometer according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of elastic strands on each side of the body is more than one.