Techniques and architectures are disclosed for a system capable of creating large changes in buoyancy that can be incorporated into underwater vehicles, embodiments of the system utilizing edge-welded, metal bellows disposed within a pressure vessel to balance a pressure differential across the bellows while using the bellows to displace fluid and thereby alter the buoyancy of a vehicle on which the system is disposed.

Techniques and architectures are disclosed for a system capable of creating large changes in buoyancy that can be incorporated into underwater vehicles, embodiments of the system utilizing edge-welded, metal bellows disposed within a pressure vessel to balance a pressure differential across the bellows while using the bellows to displace fluid and thereby alter the buoyancy of a vehicle on which the system is disposed.

A Buoyancy-Controlled Lagrangian Camera Platform and method for use to observe layers of the open ocean. The platform has subsystems for recovery, for its camera, and for its buoyancy engine, which has a buoyancy engine and engine controller to control the platform depth. The engine controller adjusts the buoyancy engine volume with an adaptive PID control system and gain scheduling to control the buoyancy engine. The method for observation consists of a camera platform, a surface vessel with an echosounder, and a means of communication between the two. The vessel uses the echosounder to identify layers of the open water for the platform to target for observation. Instruction and feedback between the platform and vessel are communicated using an acoustic modem. The vessel also uses the acoustic link to track the Buoyancy-controlled Lagrangian Platform with repeated queries on its depth and range.

A deep-sea apparatus for retrieving deep-sea nodules is provided. The deep-sea apparatus includes an opposer configured to provide static buoyancy to the deep-sea apparatus. The deep-sea apparatus further includes a thruster coupled to the opposer, the thruster configured to provide dynamic buoyancy to the deep-sea apparatus. The deep-sea apparatus also includes a variable load and a gas supply system that includes a gas cylinder connected to a gas valve of the opposer, where the gas supply system is configured to inject a predetermined amount of gas from the gas cylinder to the opposer in response to a change in a vertical position of the opposer caused by a mass change in the variable load.

A deep-sea apparatus for retrieving deep-sea nodules is provided. The deep-sea apparatus includes an opposer configured to provide static buoyancy to the deep-sea apparatus. The deep-sea apparatus further includes a thruster coupled to the opposer, the thruster configured to provide dynamic buoyancy to the deep-sea apparatus. The deep-sea apparatus also includes a variable load and a gas supply system that includes a gas cylinder connected to a gas valve of the opposer, where the gas supply system is configured to inject a predetermined amount of gas from the gas cylinder to the opposer in response to a change in a vertical position of the opposer caused by a mass change in the variable load.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of subsea equipment, and specifically pertains to a thrust reversal type emergency jettison device for an underwater vehicle. A thrust reversal type emergency jettison device for an underwater vehicle, comprises a thrust reversal mechanism, the thrust reversal mechanism comprises a casing and a gas reaction compartment provided in the casing; the gas reaction compartment communicates with a gas passage in a shell of the casing through a gas pipe; and a bottom end cover is provided at a bottom of the gas reaction compartment, and the bottom end cover is hermetically connected with the gas reaction compartment through a cylinder mechanism, and falls off automatically when a gas pressure in the gas reaction compartment increases. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can provide a reverse thrust for an underwater vehicle in an emergency, help the underwater vehicle to ascend, prevent the underwater vehicle from being trapped in bottom sediment, and improve safety.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of subsea equipment, and specifically pertains to a thrust reversal type emergency jettison device for an underwater vehicle. A thrust reversal type emergency jettison device for an underwater vehicle, comprises a thrust reversal mechanism, the thrust reversal mechanism comprises a casing and a gas reaction compartment provided in the casing; the gas reaction compartment communicates with a gas passage in a shell of the casing through a gas pipe; and a bottom end cover is provided at a bottom of the gas reaction compartment, and the bottom end cover is hermetically connected with the gas reaction compartment through a cylinder mechanism, and falls off automatically when a gas pressure in the gas reaction compartment increases. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can provide a reverse thrust for an underwater vehicle in an emergency, help the underwater vehicle to ascend, prevent the underwater vehicle from being trapped in bottom sediment, and improve safety.

A waterway sensor includes a housing having a sidewall with a plurality of openings, and at least one sensor element disposed within the housing. The at least one sensor element senses one or more properties of a waterway. A flexible elongate support is connected between the housing and a bank of the waterway. At least one of the housing and the elongate support is designed to bias the housing toward a desired position within the waterway.

A waterway sensor includes a housing having a sidewall with a plurality of openings, and at least one sensor element disposed within the housing. The at least one sensor element senses one or more properties of a waterway. A flexible elongate support is connected between the housing and a bank of the waterway. At least one of the housing and the elongate support is designed to bias the housing toward a desired position within the waterway.

A submersible node and a method and system for using the node to acquire data, including seismic data is disclosed. The node incorporates a buoyancy system to provide propulsion for the node between respective landed locations by varying the buoyancy between positive and negative. A first acoustic positioning system is used to facilitate positioning of a node when landing and a second acoustic positioning system is used to facilitate a node transiting between respective target landed locations.