System for underwater exploration using a submerged device having local production of electrical energy and towed by a surface vessel

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for underwater exploration using a submerged device towed by a surface vessel, the submerged device being connected to the vessel by a towing line and including equipment supplied by the electricity, characterized in that the submerged device includes at least one device for the local production of electrical energy, the device being an electric hydrogenerator and in that the towing line has no electrical supply cable connecting the vessel to the submerged device.

Claims

1. A system for underwater exploration, comprising: a submerged vehicle (1) configured to be towed by a surface vessel, the submerged vehicle (1) being connectable to the vessel by a towing line (2) and comprising equipment powered by electricity, the submerged vehicle (1) comprising an electric hydrogenerator (6) for local production of electrical energy, the towing line (2) having no power supply cable connecting the vessel to the submerged vehicle, and the hydrogenerator (6) being reversible and comprising a selectable generator-motor that is able, according to the selection, to produce electricity or to consume electricity by producing mechanical work to guide and/or propel the submerged vehicle (1), the system further comprising at least one of i) a dead weight along the towing line and ii) a depressor (10) along the towing line, said at least one of the dead weight and the depressor (10) each including at least one hydrogenator (6).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogenerator (6) includes a propellor or a turbine.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogenerator (6) is steerable.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the hydrogenerator (6) is steerable.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the submerged vehicle (1) further comprises a rechargeable battery for storing the electrical energy, said battery being charged and maintained charged by the hydrogenerator (6).

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the submerged vehicle (1) further comprises a rechargeable battery for storing the electrical energy, said battery being charged and maintained charged by the hydrogenerator (6).

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the submerged vehicle (1) further comprises a rechargeable battery for storing the electrical energy, said battery being charged and maintained charged by the hydrogenerator (6).

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the towing line (2) includes a data communication link between the vessel and the submerged vehicle (1).

9. The system according to claim 3, wherein the towing line (2) includes a data communication link between the vessel and the submerged vehicle (1).

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the data communication link also includes one of an electrical conductor and fibre-optic links.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the data communication link also includes one of an electrical conductor and fibre-optic links.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises both the dead weight and the depressor, and the dead weight and the depressor are gathered into a single functional device.

13. The system according to claim 3, wherein the system comprises both the dead weight and the depressor, and the dead weight and the depressor are gathered into a single functional device.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vessel includes a towing line winder/unwinder.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

(1) The following description in relation with the appended drawings, given by way of non-limitative examples, will allow a good understanding of what the invention consists of and of how it can be implemented.

(2) In the Appended Drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a towed, underwater submerged vehicle, including two electric hydrogenerators, and

(4) FIG. 2 shows an active depressor on a towing line, including two electric hydrogenerators.

DEVICE

(5) FIG. 1 shows an example of underwater submerged vehicle 1 towed at the end of a towing line 2. This submerged vehicle can be brought back to the surface and on-board the towing vessel. For that purpose, the towing vessel (not shown) includes a towing line winding/unwinding winch and means for the launching and recovery of the submerged vehicle.

(6) The submerged vehicle 1 has a chassis 3 and a hull 5, as well as guiding means such as an elevator 4 on the rear. The submerged vehicle 1 also includes two electric hydrogenerators 6 producing electrical energy that serves to power the electric equipment of the submerged vehicle. The hydrogenerators are placed around, but in other embodiments inside, the submerged vehicle so as to be able to efficiently use and convert the mechanical energy of the water flow during the towing of the submerged vehicle.

(7) In the example shown, the hydrogenerators are equipped with blades/propellers, these two terms being considered as equivalent in the context of the invention but, in other embodiments, they may be turbines or any other equivalent means. The direction and/or the pitch of blades/propellers, or of the other means, is herein fixed but, in other embodiments, it may be variable so that the drag and/or the production of electrical energy can be adjusted. The electric generator that is connected to the blades/propellers or others is of any compatible type: alternator, dynamo . . . to produce a current that is adapted to the needs, direct, alternative, polyphase or not. Means for regulating the electric production at the hydrogenerator may be implemented, either as mentioned hereinabove at the blades/propellers, or in the generator itself, for example by acting on a magnetic field and/or inductors.

(8) In a more advanced embodiment, the hydrogenerators are reversible and can operate as propulsion units, more to steer the submerged vehicle than to actually propel it because it is normally towed. However, this propulsion possibility can be useful in certain cases, for example in case of failure of one element of the exploration system, to bring the vehicle closer or bring it back to the vessel if the normal recovery of the submerged vehicle by towing is impossible. It is also contemplated to use a drag difference between the two hydrogenerators to create a force for rotating the submerged vehicle, one of them being for example disconnected from the production of electricity and the blades/propellers thereof being free to rotate.

(9) FIG. 2 shows an example of depressor 10 installed on the towing line 2. This depressor 10 is active and includes a keel or a rudder 9 and wings 7 having elevators 8, these latter being steerable. The depressor 10 includes two electric hydrogenerators 6 producing electrical energy that serves to power the active means of the depressor.

(10) The keel or rudder 9, and even the guiding means 8, can be useful in case the drags of both hydrogenerators would be different from each other, for example an object jamming one of them, in order to counter the rotational force that would result therefrom. It is also possible to use a voluntary drag difference between the hydrogenerators producing electricity to obtain a steering effect. One understands that this is possible due to the presence of two hydrogenerators, which are remote from a main plane or axis of the vehicle of depressor, this difference creating a resulting rotational force.

(11) Like for the vehicle, in a more advanced embodiment, it is possible to implement reversible hydrogenerators, which can operate as propelling units. In the case where the hydrogenerator is reversible, in addition to the drag, the propelling effect can also be used for steering the depressor.