WO2005080194A1

WO2005080194A1 - Underwater propulsion apparatus and stay for fixing propulsion unit

Info

Publication number: WO2005080194A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/002868
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toshikatsu Tsutsumi
Original assignee: Toshikatsu Tsutsumi
Priority date: 2004-02-24
Filing date: 2005-02-23
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Also published as: JP2007210349A

Abstract

An underwater propulsion apparatus not only compactly fixable to an oxygen cylinder carried by a diver but also enabling the diver to easily change its propulsion direction without using the self-force of the diver. The underwater propulsion apparatus (100) providing a propulsion force to the diver comprises a pair of propulsion units (110) and (120) fixed to the right and left sides of the oxygen cylinder (400) carried by the diver. Each of the propulsion units (110) and (120) comprises at least a motor, a housing storing the motor, and a screw positioned at the rear of the housing and driven by the motor. Also, the motor of each of the propulsion units (110) and (120) is connected to a motor control means controlling the rotational speed of the motor.

Description

Specification

Underwater propulsion device and stay for fixing propulsion unit

Technical field

The present invention relates to an underwater propulsion device fixedly used in an oxygen cylinder carried by a diver

. Further, the present invention relates to a propulsion unit fixing step for mounting and fixing a propulsion unit constituting a main body of the device to an oxygen cylinder.

Background art

[0002] As a conventional underwater propulsion device for applying a propulsive force to a diver, Patent Document 1 discloses a propeller type motor, a power source for a propeller type motor, a motor power control device, and a cylinder (oxygen cylinder). An underwater propulsion unit provided with a member receiving boot member is described. In this underwater propulsion device unit, a propeller motor, a power supply for the propeller motor and a power cylinder member receiving boot member are installed. This will allow divers to move their hands freely underwater. Patent Document 1 also describes that the motor is fixed to the air tank with a mounting ring.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-526144 (Claim 12, [0010], [0019], FIG. 1) Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, the underwater propulsion device unit of Patent Document 1 cannot change the propulsion direction unless the diver uses his or her own power. For this reason, when turning around a small radius, not only can the diver not be assisted, but also the rectilinear force of the underwater propulsion unit hinders the diver's own turning and wastes the diver's physical strength. There was a danger to make it happen. In addition, this underwater propulsion unit had a large moment of inertia and resistance from water because the propeller and motor were supported at a position far away from the back of the diver. For this reason, even if a diver tries to change his body direction in water, he may not be able to move his body as he wishes, and may feel stress. Further, in this underwater propulsion unit, the motor may rotate inside the mounting ring due to the reaction from the propeller, and may fall off the mounting ring. [0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an underwater propulsion device in which a diver can easily change a propulsion direction without using his / her own power. Another object of the present invention is to provide an underwater propulsion device that can be fixed compactly to an oxygen cylinder carried by a diver and that can reduce the moment of inertia and the resistance force received from water. It is another object of the present invention to provide a stay for fixing the propulsion unit, which can compactly fix the propulsion unit to the oxygen cylinder and can prevent the rotation of the propulsion unit.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] The problem described above is an underwater propulsion device for applying a propulsive force to a diver, comprising a pair of propulsion units fixed to the left and right through the center of an oxygen cylinder carried by the diver. At least a motor, a housing for accommodating the motor, and a screw behind the housing and driven by the motor. The motor of each propulsion unit controls the rotation speed of the motor. The problem is solved by providing an underwater propulsion device connected to the means. This underwater propulsion device can easily change the diver's propulsion direction by independently controlling the rotation speed of the motor of each propulsion unit that can only be compactly fixed to the oxygen cylinder carried by the diver.

[0007] At this time, it is preferable that the motor control means includes a controller operated by a diver and a control circuit for transmitting an output signal corresponding to an input signal received from the controller to each motor. As a result, the diver can independently control the rotation speed of each motor with the controller at hand, and can easily operate the propulsion speed and the propulsion direction. It is also preferable that a battery for driving the motor is built in the housing of each propulsion unit. This makes it possible to make the entire underwater propulsion device more compact.

[0008] Further, the above-mentioned problem is a step for fixing the propulsion unit to an oxygen cylinder carried by a diver, the holder section having a substantially annular cross section for gripping an outer peripheral surface of a housing of the propulsion unit, and an outer peripheral surface of the oxygen cylinder. The present invention also solves the problem by providing a stay for fixing a propulsion unit comprising a mounting base having a substantially arc-shaped cross section addressed to the above. The propulsion unit fixing stay can be used to suitably fix the underwater propulsion device to the oxygen cylinder in a compact manner. [0009] At this time, it is also preferable that bar-like portions for hanging the belt are provided at both ends in the circumferential direction of the mounting base. This facilitates fixing of the propulsion unit fixing stay to the oxygen cylinder. It is also preferable that a slit for fitting a flange formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the propulsion unit be provided on the inner wall surface of the holder. This makes it possible to prevent the propulsion unit from rotating in the holder. Further, an upper holder for gripping the upper substantially semi-peripheral portion of the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the holder force propulsion unit and a lower holder for gripping the remaining lower substantially semi-peripheral portion can be separated, and the slit is formed on the upper side. It is also preferable that it is formed at the boundary between the holder and the lower holder. As a result, the propulsion unit can be further fixed to the propulsion unit fixing stay with a durable force. The invention's effect

[0010] As described above, the underwater propulsion device of the present invention uses a pair of left and right propulsion units as a set while being fixed to the oxygen cylinder while using the oxygen cylinder carried by the diver at the center, so that it is compact. I The resistance force from water with small poverty moment is also small

. For this reason, the diver can easily change the body orientation in the water. Further, the underwater propulsion device of the present invention can independently control the rotation speed of each motor. For this reason, divers can easily change the direction of propulsion without using their own power. Furthermore, since the propulsion unit fixing stay of the present invention is capable of providing a slit on the peripheral wall of the holder, the propulsion unit is fixed by engaging the slit with a flange provided on the propulsion unit. Can be prevented from rotating in the holder.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is fixed to an oxygen cylinder.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a state in which the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is fixed to an oxygen cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is attached to a vest.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the underwater propulsion device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the left propulsion unit with the left stay removed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the left propulsion unit with the left stay removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a left mounting base. o

o

Garden 8] is a perspective view showing the upper boulder of the left holder.

Garden 9] is a perspective view showing the lower holder of the left holder.

〇

Garden 10] is a front view showing a state where the left stay is fixed to the left propulsion unit.

Underwater propulsion device

110 Left Propulsion Unit

111 Nosing

112 screw

113 Housing head

114 Housing Month

115 Housing tail

116, 117 flange

118, 119 Screw hole

120 Right Propulsion Unit

200 Left stay

210 Upper holder (left

211 curved part

212 arm

213, 114 faces

215, 216 screw hole

220 Lower holder (left

221 Curved section

222 arm

223, 224

225, 226 screw holes

230 Left mounting base

231 Curved section

232 convex 233 fitting hole

234 screw hole

235, 236 Rod

300 Right stay

310 Upper holder (right holder)

320 Lower holder (right holder)

330 Right mounting base

335, 336 bar

400 oxygen cylinder

500 vest

600—602 Benolet

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is fixed to an oxygen cylinder. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a state in which the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is fixed to an oxygen cylinder. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is attached to a vest. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the underwater propulsion device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the left propulsion unit with the left stay removed. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the left propulsion unit with the left stay removed. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the left mounting base. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the upper holder of the left holder. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the lower holder of the left holder part. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state where the left stay is fixed to the left propulsion unit.

The underwater propulsion device 100 includes a left propulsion unit 110 disposed on the left side of the oxygen cylinder 400 and a right propulsion unit 120 disposed on the right side of the oxygen cylinder 400, as shown in FIGS. It is powerful. The left propulsion unit 110 and the right propulsion unit 120 are fixed to the left and right via a center of oxygen cylinder 400 by a left stay 200 and a right stay 300, respectively. The oxygen cylinder 400 is usually fixed to the back of a diving vest 500 with a belt 600 as shown in FIG. [0015] In the following, for convenience of explanation, the left propulsion unit 110 and the left stay 200 will be mainly described, and the description of the right propulsion unit 120 and the right stay 300 will be omitted as much as possible. , And the left stay 200 and the right stay 300 are substantially symmetrical to the left and right, and the configuration described for the left propulsion unit 110 or the left stay 200 should be adopted for the right propulsion unit 120 or the right stay 300. This can also be employed in the right propulsion unit 120 or the right stay 300, unless it is obvious that this is not possible.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the left propulsion unit 110 includes a battery (not shown), a motor (not shown) driven by the battery, and a housing 111 that houses the battery and the motor. And the screw 112 at the rear of the housing and driven by the motor. A screw cover is attached to the outer periphery of the screw 112. The motor is connected to motor control means (not shown) for controlling the rotation speed of the motor.

[0017] The battery is not particularly limited as long as it can supply necessary power to the motor, but is preferably a rechargeable battery. This facilitates maintenance of the underwater propulsion device 100. In this embodiment, a model “HR-4 / 3FAUP” manufactured by Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. is used as the battery. The motor is not particularly limited as long as it can generate a torque necessary for rotating the screw 112 in water. A motor having a variable force rotation speed is preferable. Accordingly, the rotation speed of the screw 112 can be controlled continuously or discretely, and the underwater propulsion device 100 can be operated at a high level. In the present embodiment, a model “DC12-AF800” manufactured by Sawamura Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is used as the motor. This motor can change the rotation speed by changing the drive voltage. Note that, in this embodiment, the diver can be retracted if a motor capable of switching the rotation direction is used as the motor, which is not adopted because the cost is high. It becomes.

[0018] The housing 111 is a hollow capsule made of resin, and the inside is divided into four spaces (a motor room, a battery room, a shaft room, and a spare room). The motor chamber occupies substantially half of the rear side of the housing body 114, and houses the motor. Also battery The chamber occupies approximately half of the front side of the housing housing 114 (FIG. 5), and houses the battery. The battery compartment is provided with an openable charging window (not shown), so that the battery can be charged from the outside. Further, the shaft chamber occupies the housing tail 115 and houses a shaft (not shown) connecting the screw 112 and the motor. Furthermore, the spare room occupies the housing head 113 and can be used as a circuit room for accommodating a motor control circuit described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, flanges 116 and 117 extending in the front-rear direction are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing, and can be fitted into slits formed in left holder portions 210 and 220 described later. It is like that. Such a flange may be provided at least at one position on the outer peripheral surface of the housing, but if provided at a plurality of positions, the left holder is further pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the housing. This is preferable because it can be fixed. When the flanges are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral surface of the housing, it is preferable to arrange the flanges radially (rotationally symmetric) because the left propulsion unit 110 can be further stabilized in the left holder. In the present embodiment, the pair of flanges 116 and 117 are formed at positions on the rear outer peripheral surface of the housing body 114 opposite to each other. The flanges 116 and 117 are provided with three screw holes 118 and 119, respectively.

[0020] The motor control means includes a controller (not shown) operated by a diver and a control circuit (not shown) for transmitting an output signal corresponding to an input signal received from the controller to each motor. ing. The controller and the control circuit may be connected wirelessly, but it is preferable that the controller and the control circuit be connected by wire in consideration of using the controller underwater or losing the controller. In this embodiment, the connection is made using a waterproof cable. The control circuit may be built in the housing of the controller, but since the controller may be too large and difficult to handle, the power of the spare room (housing head 113) of the left propulsion unit 110 \ right propulsion unit It is preferable to store it in any of the 120 spare rooms, whichever is more convenient. In the present embodiment, the diver is accommodated in the spare room of the right-side propulsion unit, assuming that the diver is on the right. This is because the cable connecting the controller and the control circuit can be shortened. At this time, the motor incorporated in the control circuit and the right propulsion unit 120 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a right motor) is The control circuit and the motor built into the left propulsion unit 110 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the left motor) are connected by drawing lead wires inside the housing of the right propulsion unit 120. The connection is made by running a cable (a cable different from the cable connecting the controller and the control circuit) between the left propulsion unit 110 and the right propulsion unit 120. For this reason, the control circuit built in the right propulsion unit 120 can transmit output signals to both the left motor and the right motor.

[0021] The controller housing includes two push-button switches (hereinafter, switch S, switch S, and switch S).

1 2 Call. ) Is provided. Switch s sets and selects the motor controlled by the control circuit.

1

Press once to select both the left and right motors, press twice to select only the left motor, and press three times to select only the right motor. Switch S is for setting and selecting the rotation speed of the motor selected by switch S in a stepwise manner.

twenty one

Press once to rotate at low speed (approximately 800 rpm (value in air; the same applies hereafter)), press twice to rotate at medium speed (approx. LOOrpm), and press three times to rotate at high speed (approx. 1600 rpm). Therefore, the controller is capable of causing the underwater propulsion device 100 to perform various operations. For example, press switch S once and press switch S once

1 2 and the diver can move forward at low speed because both the left and right motors rotate at low speed, and if switch S is pressed twice and switch S is pressed three times, only the left motor rotates at high speed.

1 2

The diver can quickly turn right with a small radius to do so.

[0022] The control circuit is not particularly limited as long as the control circuit can realize the above sequence, and may be a primitive circuit using a power counter or a relay. Since a malfunction or breakage may occur, it is preferable to use a non-contact semiconductor circuit. Various PIC microcomputers and sequencers can be exemplified as those using a semiconductor circuit.In this embodiment, in consideration of cost and dimensions, the PIC microcomputer model `` PIC16F873 '' manufactured by Microchip Technology, Inc. This is achieved by programming the above sequence.

As shown in FIG. 4, the left stay 200 includes left holder portions 210 and 220 having a substantially annular cross section for gripping the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the left propulsion unit 110, and a substantially arc-shaped cross section addressed to the outer peripheral surface of the oxygen cylinder. And a left-hand mounting base 230. In FIG. 4, the left holder 21 The reference numerals 0 and 220 indicate that the upper holder 210 and the lower holder 220 are separated from each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, the left mounting base 230 is composed of a curved portion 231 having a substantially arc-shaped cross section that abuts the oxygen cylinder on the inner peripheral surface, and a convex portion 232 that supports the left holder. The convex portion 232 is formed so as to face outward from the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion 231. At the tip of the convex portion 232, an insertion hole 233 into which the arms of the left holder portion to be described later are inserted in an overlapping state is provided, and the left mounting base portion 230 holds the left holder portion with a holding force. And can be fixed. The protrusion 232 of the left mounting base 230 has three screw holes 234 vertically penetrating the protrusion 232. Further, at both ends in the circumferential direction of the left mounting base 230, there are provided bar-shaped portions 235, 236 for supporting the belt S. As shown in FIG. 2, the left stay J stay 200 and the right J stay 300 are provided. The outer peripheral surface of the oxygen cylinder 400 can be fixed using the velvets 601 and 602 (the velvets 601 and 602f and the rear body of the velvet 500 in FIG. 3). It is also possible to provide a belt fixing means such as a belt loop and fix it to the belt fixing means, so that the oxygen cylinder 400 can be more firmly attached to the best 500. .

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the left holder portions 210 and 220 can be separated into an upper honoreda 210 and a lower honoreder 220, and are firmly and easily attached to the left propulsion unit 110. It is something that can be done. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper holder 210 includes a curved portion 211 having a substantially semicircular cross section, and a plate-shaped arm 212 extending outward from one end of the curved portion 211. As shown in FIG. 9, the lower holder 220 also includes a curved portion 221 having a substantially semicircular cross section and a flat plate arm 222 extending outward from one end of the curved portion 221. It is designed to be vertically symmetrical.

Each of the curved portions 211 and 221 of the left holder portion is designed so that the cross section is slightly shorter than a semicircle as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and each of the curved portions 211 and 221 is When combined, one slit is formed at each boundary の (between the surface 213 and the surface 223 and between the surface 214 and the surface 224) of each curved surface 221. As shown in FIG. 10, flanges 116 and 117 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the left propulsion unit 110 are fitted into and fixed to each slit. Therefore, the left holder units 210 and 220 are G 110 can be prevented from rotating. At both ends in the circumferential direction of the curved portion 211 of the upper holder 210, there are provided three screw holes 215 and 216 that penetrate the curved portion 211 in the vertical direction (FIG. 8). Screw holes 225 and screws 226 penetrating the bending portion 221 in the vertical direction are also provided at three locations at both ends in the circumferential direction of the bending portion 221 (FIG. 9). When the upper holder 210 and the lower holder 220 are fixed to the left propulsion unit 110, the screws L118, 215, and 225 are aligned on the same axis, and the screw holes 119, 216, and 226 are aligned on the same axis. It has become. For this reason, the upper holder 210 and the lower holder 220 can be tightened integrally with the left propulsion unit 110 with screws.

The arms 212 and 222 of the left holders 210 and 220 are designed so that they can be fitted into the fitting holes 233 provided in the left mounting base 230 in an overlapping state. As shown in FIG. 8, the arm 212 of the upper holder 210 is provided with three screw holes 215 penetrating the arm 212 in the vertical direction. Similarly, the arm 222 of the lower holder 220 is provided with three screw holes 225 penetrating the arm 222 in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. When the arms 212 and 222 of the left holders 210 and 220 are overlapped and fitted into the fitting holes 233 of the left mounting base 230, the screw holes 215, 225 and 234 are aligned on the same axis. . For this reason, the arms 212 and 222 of the left holder portion can be tightened integrally with the projection 232 of the left mounting base 230 with screws.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An underwater propulsion device for applying a propulsive force to a diver, comprising a pair of propulsion units and a pair of right and left propulsion units for fixing the pair of propulsion units to the left and right through an oxygen cylinder carried by the diver at the center. A propulsion unit fixing step, wherein each propulsion unit has at least a motor, a housing for accommodating the motor, and a screw behind the housing and driven by the motor. Force The propulsion unit fixing stay is connected to a motor control means for controlling the rotation speed of the motor. A submersible propulsion device consisting of a mounting base with a substantially arcuate cross section.

[2] The motor control means includes: a controller operated by a diver; and a control circuit for transmitting an output signal corresponding to an input signal received from the controller to each motor.

Underwater propulsion device according to 1.

[3] The underwater propulsion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a battery for driving a motor is built in a housing of each propulsion unit.

[4] The underwater propulsion device according to any one of [13] to [13], wherein a bar-shaped portion is provided on both ends of the mounting base in the circumferential direction for looping the belt.

[5] The underwater propulsion device according to any one of [14] to [14], wherein a slit for fitting a flange formed on an outer peripheral surface of the housing of the propulsion unit is provided on an inner wall surface of the holder portion.

[6] Holder Force The upper holder, which grips the upper half of the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the propulsion unit, and the lower holder, which grips the remaining lower half of the housing, are separable. 6. The underwater propulsion device according to claim 5, wherein the underwater propulsion device is formed at a boundary between the upper holder and the lower holder.

[7] An underwater propulsion device for applying a propulsion force to a diver, comprising a pair of propulsion units and a pair of propulsion units for fixing the pair of propulsion units to the left and right through a center of an oxygen cylinder carried by the diver. A propulsion unit fixing step, wherein each propulsion unit is driven by at least a motor, a battery for driving the motor, a housing for accommodating the motor and the battery, and a motor behind the housing and driven by the motor. A screw, and is connected to motor control means for controlling the motor force S of each of the propulsion units and the rotation speed of the motor, The motor control means includes a controller operated by a diver, and a control circuit for transmitting an output signal corresponding to an input signal received from the controller to each motor. The outer peripheral surface of the housing can be separated into an upper holder that grips the upper approximately semi-peripheral portion and a lower holder that grips the remaining lower approximately semi-peripheral portion, and at the boundary between the upper holder and the lower holder, the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the propulsion unit A holder having a substantially annular cross section provided with a slit for fitting a flange formed therein and a mounting base having a substantially arc-shaped cross section addressed to the outer peripheral surface of the oxygen cylinder, and both ends in the circumferential direction of the mounting base. Underwater propulsion device provided with a rod-shaped portion for looping a belt around.

[8] An underwater propulsion device that applies propulsive power to a diver, comprising a pair of propulsion units that are fixed to the left and right through the center of an oxygen cylinder carried by the diver, and each propulsion unit has at least a motor and A motor housing the motor, and a screw behind the housing and driven by the motor. The motor of each propulsion unit is connected to motor control means for controlling the rotation speed of the motor. Underwater propulsion equipment that has been made.

9. The underwater propulsion device according to claim 8, wherein the motor control means includes a controller operated by a diver, and a control circuit for transmitting an output signal corresponding to an input signal received from the controller to each motor.

[10] The underwater propulsion device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a battery for driving a motor is built in the housing of each propulsion unit.

[11] A stay for fixing the propulsion unit to the oxygen cylinder carried by the diver, comprising a holder having a substantially annular cross section for gripping the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the propulsion unit, and a cross-sectional outline addressed to the outer peripheral surface of the oxygen cylinder. A propulsion unit fixing step comprising an arcuate mounting base.

12. The propulsion unit fixing stay according to claim 11, wherein rod-like portions for looping a belt are provided at both circumferential ends of the mounting base.

13. The stay for fixing a propulsion unit according to claim 11, wherein a slit for fitting a flange formed on an outer peripheral surface of a housing of the propulsion unit is provided on an inner wall surface of the holder portion.

[14] The holder force S can be separated into an upper holder that grips the upper approximately semi-peripheral portion of the outer peripheral surface of the propulsion unit housing and a lower holder that grips the remaining lower approximately semi-peripheral portion. 14. The propulsion unit fixing stay according to claim 13, which is formed at a boundary between the upper holder and the lower holder.