MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS COMPRISING A SURFACE VESSEL AND A SUBMERSIBLE DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed is a measurement system for aquatic environments, including a surface vessel and a submersible device, the submersible device including a hull, propulsion, guide, and sensors for taking measurements. The submersible device can either be launched from the vessel in order to then maneuver underwater independently of the vessel during a remote deployment phase, or be stored in a vessel during a non-deployment phase, the vessel including at least one hull and propulsion and guide, the at least one hull of the vessel including a submerged portion located below a waterline. The submerged portion of the at least one hull of the vessel includes a recess designed to receive at least an upper portion of the hull of the submersible device when the latter is stored in the vessel, the recess being arranged entirely below the waterline so that the submersible device remains completely submerged during storage.

Claims

1. A measurement system (1) for aquatic environment, said system comprising a surface vessel (4) and an underwater machine (2), the underwater machine (2) comprising a hull (29) and propulsion and guiding means (20, 21) as well as sensors (25) for taking measurements, wherein the underwater machine (2) can be either launched from the vessel (4) to move on under water independently of the vessel during a remote-use phase, or stored into the vessel (4) in a non-remote-use phase, the vessel (4) comprising at least one hull (42) and propulsion and guiding means (40), said at least one hull (42) of the vessel (4) comprising a submerged portion located below a waterline, characterized in that the submerged portion of said at least one hull (42) of the vessel (4) comprises a recess (43) intended to receive at least an upper portion of the hull (29) of the underwater machine (2) when the latter is stored into the vessel (4), said recess (43) being arranged entirely below the waterline so that the underwater machine (2) remains completely submerged during its storage.

2. The system (1) according to claim 3, wherein, when the underwater machine (2) is stored in the vessel (4), the propulsion means (20) of the underwater machine (2), when activated, take part in the propulsion of the vessel (4).

3. The system (1) according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the propulsion means (20) of the underwater machine (2) is arranged at the rear of said underwater machine (2), and the vessel (4) comprises a rear end wall (41) and the recess (43) is open in the rear end wall (41) of the vessel (4) so that said portion of the propulsion means (20) of the underwater machine (2) stored in the recess is arranged more on the rear than the rear end wall (41) of the vessel and can take part in the propulsion of said vessel (4).

4. The system (1) according to claim 13, wherein said underwater machine (2) is wire-guided by a link cable (3) from the vessel (4), the vessel comprising a winder/unwinder (45) for said link cable, and said link cable (3) passing through the vessel hull in the recess (43) of the hull (42) of the vessel (4).

5. The system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the link cable passes through the hull (42) of the vessel (4) through a passage hole (46) opening to the recess (43).

6. The system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the underwater machine and the vessel comprise complementary, unlockable, locking means, for removably coupling or stowing the hull (29) of the underwater machine (2) to the hull (42) of the vessel to maintain the underwater machine (2) in the recess (43) of the hull (42) of the vessel (4).

7. The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the locking means allow a complete stowing of the underwater machine to the vessel.

8. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the underwater machine (2) has a general shape elongated along a main machine axis (27), said general shape defining a machine outline, the measurement sensors are housed in a working load enclosure (23) having a general shape elongated along a main enclosure axis (26) with two opposite enclosure ends, a first enclosure end and a second enclosure end, and the working load enclosure (23) being integrated in the underwater machine (2), and being pivotally mounted (24) in the underwater machine (2) in order to allow the pivoting of the working load enclosure (23) between a retracted position in which the main enclosure axis (26) is parallel to the main machine axis and an extracted position in which the main enclosure axis (26) is inclined with respect to the main machine axis (27) so that at least one of both enclosure ends is out of the machine outline, the working load enclosure (23) being configured so that, in retracted position, said enclosure is inside the machine outline.

9. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the working load enclosure (23) is arranged within the underwater machine (2), in an accommodation chamber (22), said accommodation chamber (22) being longitudinally elongated, i.e. along the main machine axis (27), and passing transversally throughout the machine, and the working load enclosure (23) is pivotally mounted (24) in said accommodation chamber (22).

10. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the working load enclosure (23) can pivot over at least 90 with respect to the underwater machine (2).

11. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the working load enclosure can pivot over 360 or more with respect to the underwater machine (2).

12. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the mounting pivot (24) of the working load enclosure (23) is removable in order to allow the separation of the working load enclosure (23) from the underwater machine (2) and the launching of the enclosure (23) out of the underwater machine (2).

13. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the recess (43) has a depth allowing to store the underwater machine in order that the hydrodynamic drag of the vessel is modified by less than 40% with respect to the same vessel but without recess and without storing an underwater machine.

14. The system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the working load enclosure (23) can pivot over at least 90 with respect to the underwater machine (2).

15. The system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the working load enclosure can pivot over 360 or more with respect to the underwater machine (2).

16. The system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the mounting pivot (24) of the working load enclosure (23) is removable in order to allow the separation of the working load enclosure (23) from the underwater machine (2) and the launching of the enclosure (23) out of the underwater machine (2).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0078] The following description, in relation with the appended drawings given by way of non-limitative examples, will permit to understand in what consists the invention and how it may be made.

[0079] In the appended drawings:

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a measurement system with a vessel and an underwater machine wire-guided in phase of remote use of the underwater machine, a winder/unwinder for the link cable between the vessel and the underwater machine being visible on the rear portion of the vessel deck,

[0081] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the vessel of the system of FIG. 1 and of its link-cable winder/unwinder,

[0082] FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a measurement system with other examples of vessel and underwater machine in phase of storage of the underwater machine in a recess of the vessel hull, the link-cable winder/unwinder being not visible inside the vessel,

[0083] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the measurement system with vessel and underwater machine of FIG. 3, still in phase of storage of the underwater machine in a recess of the vessel hull,

[0084] FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of the measurement system with vessel and underwater machine of FIG. 3, this time in remote-use phase and with details about the working load of the underwater machine.

DEVICE

[0085] In FIG. 1 is shown a first example of a measurement system 1 with a surface vessel 2 and a wire-guided underwater machine 2 used at distance from the vessel. The underwater machine 2 is connected to the vessel 4 by a link cable 3 which may be unwound during the launching of the underwater machine or wound during the recovery of the underwater machine, by means of a winder/unwinder 45 for a link cable 3 arranged on the rear portion of the deck of the vessel 4. The vessel comprises a hull 42 with a submerged portion. The underwater machine comprises a hull 29 and propulsion and guiding means and, in this example, two propellers 20 on the rear.

[0086] In FIG. 2, the winder/unwinder 45 of the link cable 3 and the recess 43 in the submerged portion of the hull 42 of the vessel 4 can be seen more precisely. The recess 43 is intended to receive the underwater machine in phase of storage of the latter in the vessel, more precisely under and against the hull 42 of the vessel 4, in the median portion of the latter to keep a port-starboard symmetry of the hull. The link cable passes through the hull 42 of the vessel 4 through a passage hole 46 made at the recess 43 and opening thereto. The passage hole 46 is partially filled with water at its bottom portion due to the fact that the recess 43 is fully submerged. The hull 42 of the vessel 4 is hence continuous and the recess closed, except at the passage hole 46. It will be noted that, given that the recess 43 and the passage hole 46 are viewed in transparency in this FIG. 2, they are shown in dotted line, like their numerical reference arrows.

[0087] In FIG. 3 showing another example of system 1 according to the invention, the underwater machine 2 has been brought back/recovered for storage into the vessel, like the link cable that has been wound on a winder/unwinder (not visible in FIGS. 3 to 5). The underwater machine 2 is stored into the recess 43 of the hull 42 of the vessel 4. In this example, the recess 43 is configured so that the lower portion of the underwater machine protrudes from the general outline of the vessel hull. In alternative embodiments, this protrusion is less important or even absent. On the front of the recess 43, the hull 42 comprises a fairing 44 intended to smooth the shape transition between the hull 42 and the front of the underwater machine 2. The underwater machine 2 herein comprises a rear propeller 20 and guiding means 21 allowing it to be guided in its underwater displacements.

[0088] Due to the fact that the recess 43 is located under the waterline and is hence always submerged, the presence of the underwater machine 2, due to its own adapted floatability, fixed in the recess, or the absence thereof because used at distance, does not modify the floatability of the vessel.

[0089] The vessel 2 comprises propulsion and guiding means that are, in this example, in the form of directional propellers 40 performing the two propulsion and guiding functions. The vessel also comprises a rear end wall 41 of its hull 42 delimiting on the rear the vessel hull and going down from the deck towards and into the water. This rear end wall 41 is open in the main axis of the recess 43 so that the rear portion of the stored underwater machine 2 can protrude towards the rear of the vessel 4 and that the propulsion means 20 thereof can take part in the propulsion of the vessel, if necessary. Likewise, if necessary, at least a portion of the guiding means 21 of the underwater machine 2 can assist the guiding means 40 of the vessel 4.

[0090] FIG. 4 better shows the two directional propellers 40 of the vessel 4, as well as the median position of the underwater machine 2 stored in the recess of the hull 42, under and against the hull 42.

[0091] Preferably, in storage position, the underwater machine is rigidly fixed to the vessel by a complete stowing of the underwater machine of the vessel. In a variant having for drawback to leave a certain freedom of move to the underwater machine and hence with risks of shocks between the machine and vessel hulls, the machine in storage position is simply coupled to the vessel hull. In the latter case, a coating or blocks of resilient material and/or shock absorbers are provided in the recess to absorb the shocks and/or to slightly stick the machine in the recess.

[0092] The vessel presented herein by way of example is single-hull, but the invention may apply to a vessel of the catamaran type with two parallel hulls or, which is considered as equivalent in the context of the invention, two parallel keels, and in this case, the underwater machine is stored into the recess created by the median area of the vessel, where the two hulls or keels meet each other. Likewise, the invention may apply to a vessel of the trimaran type with three parallel hulls or, by equivalence, three parallel keels, and in this case, the underwater machine is stored into the recess formed under the central hull or under any one of the three hulls. It is even contemplated, in a multi-hull, that each hull or a certain number of hulls comprises at least one recess for at least one underwater machine. A same vessel, whether it is single-hull or multi-hull, is liable to deploy several underwater machines, simultaneously or separately.

[0093] In FIG. 5 is shown in detail the structure of the underwater machine 2 comprising a working load with sensors 25. This working load is arranged within a working load enclosure 23 of the underwater machine 2. The working load enclosure 23 is arranged within the underwater machine 2, in an accommodation chamber 22. This accommodation chamber 22 is longitudinally elongated, i.e. along the main machine axis 27 and passes transversally throughout the underwater machine. Preferably, the underwater machine 2 is configured to move so that the chamber is substantially horizontal (at least axially in the transverse direction), except possibly during changes of direction such as diving or rising up or turning. This may be due to the fact that the link cable 3 arrives on a portion, called the upper portion, of the underwater machine, and that, when the link cable extended upward has a certain tension, the natural position of the underwater machine is that in which the chamber is substantially horizontal, at least in the transverse direction. Furthermore, the guiding and propulsion means may be controlled and/or configured to provide this horizontality at least according to a transverse axis (wherein the main machine axis 27 can be inclined orpreferablyhorizontal with respect to a local terrestrial reference system) of the accommodation chamber. It is understood that any other position of the underwater machine may be controlled, if need be.

[0094] The working load enclosure 23 has a general shape elongated along a main enclosure axis 26 with two opposite enclosure ends, a first enclosure end and a second enclosure end. The sensors 25 are typically arranged at the two opposite ends of the enclosure 23. This shape of the enclosure 23 substantially corresponds laterally to the generally cylindrical and elongated shape of the underwater machine 2, so that the enclosure 23, in retracted position, is comprised into the outline of the underwater machine and that, in particular, the free lateral faces thereof (of the enclosure) are in shape continuity with the adjacent portions of the wall of the enclosure device and hence, allows reducing the drag of the unit in retracted position of the enclosure 23. The working load enclosure 23 may hence comprise planar top and bottom faces, i.e. on the inner side of the accommodation chamber 22, and rounded lateral faces, the accommodation chamber 22 having itself planar, top and bottom inner faces.

[0095] The working load enclosure 23 is pivotally mounted 24 in the accommodation chamber 22 so as to allow the pivoting of the working load enclosure 23 between a retracted position in which the main enclosure axis 26 is at least parallel, preferably collinear, to the main machine axis 27, and an extracted position in which the main enclosure axis 26 is inclined with respect to the main machine axis 27 so that both enclosure ends are out of the machine outline, one each lateral side of the underwater machine. The pivot 24 is arranged in the median portion of the length of the working load enclosure 23. When the working load enclosure 23 is pivoted by 90 from the main machine axis 27, the sensors 25 at both ends of the enclosure 23 protrude from the outline of the underwater machine 2 and can efficiently perform measurements without the underwater machine hides the major part of the measurement environment.

[0096] In addition to the reduction of the underwater machine drag in the retracted position of the working load enclosure, the sensors are also physically protected in this retracted position. Moreover, it is possible to provide that the working load enclosure can pivot over more than 360 to perform circular scanning operations during measurements of the environment by the sensors, over and above the fact that the sensors themselves can be rotated within the working load enclosure, which allows a dual scanning.

[0097] As a variant, the working load enclosure is a pivoting portion of the underwater machine body and, for example, a segment of the length of the lower edge of the machine. This segment has then typically, in transverse cross-section, the shape of an arc of a circle cut by a straight line in the case of a machine 2 having a cylindrical body. It is understood that this cross-sectional shape can be different in the case where the machine has a non-cylindrical body.

[0098] The underwater machine comprises any equipment useful for its use and, for example, electronic and/or computer equipment devices, a buffer or back-up electrical battery for the equipment and the propeller, that is preferably electrical, possibly a ballast system.

[0099] In the case where the system would have more than one underwater machine, it is provided as many recesses under the vessel hull as there are underwater machines to be stored. As a variant or in combination, it can be provided to stack the underwater machines one under each other for storing them, the highest one being fastened to the vessel and those located underneath being fastened to the one located just above it, the link cables being arranged accordingly, either in star configuration (=in parallel) from the vessel, or in series (=a cable passing from one machine to another one) from the vessel, wherein the machines can comprise their own cable winding/unwinding means. It is understood that any other arrangement of recess receiving several underwater machines is contemplated and, for example, with an angular distribution, no longer stacked, of the machines within a wide common recess.

[0100] Hence, among all the variants of implementation of the invention also possible, it may be mentioned that several recesses may be made in a same hull of a single-hull or multi-hull vessel to receive as many underwater machines, one per recess. It is also possible to provide several underwater machines in a same recess, each machine having its specific link cable or being connected to a same link cable, the latter case allowing, for example, a launching of the machines in series. Still in the latter case, certain of the machines connected to the same cable may be simplified equipment devices without having necessarily propulsion and/or guiding means.

[0101] More generally, the one skilled in the art may bring many modifications and variations to the above-described embodiments, in particular by replacing elements by other functionally equivalent elements, while remaining within the protective scope of the following claims.