阅读说明：本技术 一种用于鱼缸的潜入式观察单元 (Submerged observation unit for fish tank ) 是由 埃斯本·贝克 盖尔·英厄·罗德斯 于 2020-02-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于鱼缸的潜入式观察单元(6),其中观察单元(6)悬挂于来自表面浮标(2)的卷扬机绞盘(3)的节点缆绳(5)中。节点缆绳(5)是抗扭转的,其中节点缆绳(5)在其上端部处卷绕在具有水平卷筒轴线的卷扬机绞盘(3)上。观察单元(6)被布置成是机动化的并且绕竖向轴线进行方位角式旋转。表面浮标(2)被布置成是机动化的并沿表面缆绳(1)的主跨(10)移动,其中主跨(10)被布置成跨鱼缸的浮环(9)。(The invention relates to a submerged observation unit (6) for a fish tank, wherein the observation unit (6) is suspended in a node cable (5) from a winch (3) of a surface buoy (2). The node cable (5) is anti-twisting, wherein the node cable (5) is wound at its upper end on a winch (3) having a horizontal drum axis. The observation unit (6) is arranged to be motorized and to perform an azimuthal rotation about a vertical axis. The surface buoy (2) is arranged to be motorized and to move along a main span (10) of the surface cable (1), wherein the main span (10) is arranged to span a floating ring (9) of the fish tank.)

1. A submerged observation unit (6) for a fish cage, wherein the observation unit (6) is suspended in a nodal line (5) from a winch (3) of a surface buoy (2),

it is characterized in that

The node cable (5) is torsion-resistant,

the node cable (5) is wound at its upper end on a winch (3) having a horizontal drum axis,

the observation unit (6) is arranged to be motorized and to rotate azimuthally about a vertical axis,

the surface buoy (2) is arranged to be motorized and to move along a main span (10) of the surface line (1), wherein the main span (10) is arranged to span a floating ring (9) of a fish cage.

2. Observation unit (6) for a fish cage according to claim 1, wherein the observation unit (6) is arranged to be motorized and to azimuthally rotate about a vertical axis, and the winch (3) is motorized and mounted on a bearing (32) having a vertical axis, provided in the surface buoy (2), and wherein a housing (61) of the observation unit (6) is tightly sealed at the lower end of the node cable (5).

3. Observation unit (6) for a fish cage according to claim 1, wherein the observation unit (6) is arranged to be motorized and to rotate azimuthally about a vertical axis, and the winch (3) is fixed and the housing (61) of the observation unit (6) is mounted on a bearing (33) with a vertical axis at the lower end of the nodal cable (5).

4. A viewing unit (6) for a fish tank as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the main span (10) of the surface cable (1) extends between a first point and a second point on a float ring by:

a first elastic sling (41) attached to the floating ring at a first point and provided with a first set of hooks (44) at a first end of the main span (10), and

a second elastic sling (42) attached to the floating ring at a second point and provided with a second hitch (45) at a second end of the main span (10).

5. A viewing unit (6) for a fish tank as claimed in claim 4, wherein the surface cable (1) comprises, in addition to the main span (10), a continuous extension (12) which extends beyond the second end of the main span (10) and the second set of hooks (45) at cable end (11) and then back into the surface buoy (2).

6. Viewing unit (6) for a fish tank according to claim 5, wherein the continuous extension (12) extends to a third point on the floating ring between the first and second points, such that

A third elastic sling (43) is attached to the float ring at a first point and is provided with a third set of hooks (46) at about the midpoint of the extension (12) such that the entire surface cable (1) including the main span (10) and the extension (12) is stretched within the aquarium.

7. Viewing unit (6) for a fish tank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein

The surface buoy (2) comprises a set of motorized drive wheels (21, 22) arranged to engage with a main span (10) of the surface line (1), and wherein the drive wheels (21, 22) are arranged to move the surface buoy (2) along the main span (10) to a desired position on the main span (10).

8. Viewing unit (6) for a fish tank as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the driving wheels (21, 22) is arranged to be movable relative to the other driving wheel (21, 22) and detachable from the main span (10).

9. Viewing unit (6) for a fish tank as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the surface buoy (2) is provided with at least one guide rail (24) arranged to guide the main span (10) towards the drive wheels (21, 22) and arranged to achieve directional stability of the surface buoy (2) relative to the main span (10).

10. A viewing unit (6) for a fish tank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the viewing unit (6) comprises at least one of the following optical units (65, 66) provided in or at the housing (61):

a camera arranged to record an image of the fish,

an ultrasound probe (65) arranged to record an image of the fish or to determine the position of the fish,

a laser (66) arranged to perform at least one of:

the fish is irradiated by the light emitted by the fish,

the position of the fish is detected and determined,

detecting and determining the position of an organism on a fish, an

The organisms on the fish are irradiated and killed,

a light source, arranged to illuminate the fish, e.g. an LED light source,

a hydrological measurement instrument, such as a salinity meter, an oxygen saturation meter, an acoustic sensor, or a biosensor.

11. Viewing unit (6) for a fish tank according to claim 10, wherein the at least one optical unit (65, 66) is controlled in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.

12. Viewing unit (6) for a fish tank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein between the second end (11) of the surface cable (1) and the upper end (51) of the node cable (5) there is a signal/electric rotator (34) arranged for signal/electric current transmission in the signal/electric rotator (34) in the winch (3).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a submerged observation unit for a fish tank, wherein the suspended observation unit can be moved by means of a winch on a surface buoy, which in turn can be moved along a main span extending across the water surface between two points on a floating ring. More specifically, the nodal cable from the winch is torsion resistant, such that rotation of the cable about its vertical axis, for example due to rotation of the winch in the azimuth plane, will control the observation unit to a desired azimuth. By the possible indirect movement of the observation unit along the main span and the fact that the unit can be raised and lowered and its azimuth angle can be controlled, it is achieved that the observation unit can be moved to all parts of the cylinder in a very flexible manner and with a simple apparatus. The entire system is easy to install, use and then disassemble for use in other cylinders.

Background

Many technical solutions for observing fish in fish tanks are known in the art. Some of which are described in the patent literature:

the applicant holds the norwegian patent NO 331345 "Device and Method for exciting parasites on fish" for fish tanks. This is achieved by a camera communicating with a control unit, which for destroying the parasite communicates with a light source, which is arranged to emit pulses, laser pulses. The control unit controls the system for optical identification within a defined coordinate system and is arranged to determine positions exhibiting contrast differences typical for parasites located on the skin of a fish and to update the coordinates of the positions in real time and to trigger a light pulse from the light source when the coordinates of the determined positions coincide with the coordinates of the striking position of the light source on the fish. In this way, fish lice are killed or injured.

NO 300401 describes a positioning device for a camera, detector or measuring device in a fish tank. The apparatus is suspended on two or more ropes which extend via the upper periphery of the cylinder to a winch. The apparatus is positioned using winches working together and mounted on a buoyant ring.

NO 330863 describes a device and a method for recording the movement of fish in a fish tank, where a camera housing is suspended on a cable that can be raised and lowered on the water surface by wires and pulleys, and where a winch is provided on the edge of the tank.

NO 337305 discloses a system and a method for calculating the size of fish. Which discloses a winch for raising and lowering an observation system into a cylinder. The rigid rods are suspended from ropes that extend from the balustrade of the vat to a buoy in the centre of the vat.

CN 108059102 describes a subsea winch with a sealed engine.

GB 1329494 describes an underwater bell in which there is a motorized winch. The winch is arranged to raise and lower itself along the wire from the surface buoy. Below the underwater bell there is a wire and an anchor.

EP 1871658B1, entitled "Inspection system for underwater structures and having positioning means", shows a device for observing the positioning of an installation which can be moved up and down to different water depths by means of a continuously adjustable vertical telescopic rod and moved horizontally by means of a coupling between a rail and a carriage guided by rollers. The observation unit can be rotated at least about a horizontal spatial axis (RM) and forms a right angle with the optical camera axis (KA).

Problems of the prior art

The above disclosure does not address the problems relating to the safe azimuthal arrangement of underwater viewing equipment. NO 300401 requires several winches and they are controlled in a coordinated way. NO 330863 requires three azimuthally distributed cameras to view in several directions about their vertical axes. This triples the equipment and energy requirements and equipment weight, and also triples the overall cost. NO 337305 is intended to project a known stripe pattern onto the fish passing the camera to calculate the size of the fish. The disadvantage is poor control of the azimuth of the viewing element. Furthermore, there is a risk of undesired movements of the submersible housing and ice accumulation on the wires running in the air. GB 1329494 lacks a method of controlling the azimuth angle and there is also a risk of water entering the winch and its motor in the submersible housing. This risk increases with the depth of the housing.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention, as defined in the main claim, is a submersible viewing unit for a fish tank, wherein

The observation unit is suspended from a node line from a winch in the surface buoy,

the node cable is resistant to twisting and,

the node cable is wound at its upper end on a winch having a horizontal drum axis,

the observation unit is arranged to be motorized and to perform an azimuthal rotation about a vertical axis,

the surface buoy is arranged to be motorized and to move along a main span of the surface cable, wherein the main span is arranged to extend over a floating ring of the aquarium.

Further advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an aquarium having a floating ring with a boom and a viewing unit suspended from a surface buoy that moves along the main span of a surface cable to form a chord (a chord when the tank is circular or a line that spans a rectangle when the tank is rectangular) that extends across the ring. The second end of the surface cable is fixedly attached and returned to the surface buoy where the winch is located. The first end of the surface cable is positioned to the control cabin at the cylinder edge.

Fig. 2 illustrates a surface buoy provided with a winch and arranged to move along the main span of the surface cable and having an observation unit suspended from a torsion resistant winch cable from the winch of the winch. In this embodiment of the invention, the winch may be rotated about a vertical axis, so that the anti-torsion node cable controls the orientation, i.e. the azimuth direction, of the observation unit.

Fig. 3 illustrates a surface buoy 2 arranged to move along a surface cable 1. One end of the surface cable is returned from a second or third sling (stagline) attached to the cylinder ring and into the buoy. The surface buoy is arranged to move along the main span of the surface cable. The drive wheel is proximate and engages the main span to reposition the surface buoy to a desired location on the main span.

Fig. 4 illustrates a surface buoy on a surface cable, wherein the driving wheels 21, 22 are separate and not engaged with the main span, so that the wheels can be disconnected from the main span.

Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the node line 5 and buoy 2 with winch 3 seen from below. Also shown are the bearings 32 and the rotating means 34.

Fig. 6 illustrates, from the same perspective as fig. 5, a buoy having a winch, a node cable 5 and a suspended, azimuthally controlled observation unit 6. Similar to fig. 5, the bearing 33 and the rotating means 35 are also shown.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a submerged observation unit 6 for a fish tank, wherein

The observation unit is suspended from a node line 5 from a winch 3 in the surface buoy 2,

the node cable 5 is torsion-resistant and,

the node cable 5 is wound at its upper end on a winch 3 with a horizontal drum axis,

the observation unit 6 is arranged to be motorized and to perform an azimuthal rotation about a vertical axis,

the surface buoy 2 is arranged to be motorized and to move along a main span 10 of the surface cable 1, wherein the main span 10 is arranged to extend across the floating ring 9 of the aquarium.

The surface line 1 is so represented because it is arranged to float or approximately float at the water surface in the cylinder 9. The cable is therefore subject to weak buoyancy, either balanced in the water or to weak negative buoyancy. In fig. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein a guide rail 24 is provided to guide the main span 10 towards the drive wheel (shown in fig. 4). In this way, the tension on the surface cable 1 is advantageously small and the cable can be made quite flexible in order to simplify the management of the cable and the attachment and fixing of the surface cable at a determined position by means of hitches and slings.

A substantial advantage of the invention is that the surface buoy 2 and the cable 1 are exposed to limited ice accumulation because they are located at the water surface and the surface buoy 2 is arranged so that it can move back and forth along the main span 10 of the surface cable 1, which does not extend through the air between the first and second attachment points of the cylinder (float ring) 9. In the same context, the surface buoy 2 floats at the water surface, and mainly longitudinal forces (and drifting forces) can be absorbed by the attachment at each end of the cylinder 9. Thus, the surface cable 1 (with zero or very little weight in water) is only subjected to a large tension at the attachment points, the first and second points in the loop 9.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in fig. 1. The advantage of this embodiment, in which the observation unit 6 is suspended in the torsion-resistant nodal cable 5 and in which the motorized observation unit 6 is arranged for azimuthal rotation about a vertical axis, is that the observation unit 6 is suspended in the torsion-resistant nodal cable 5 in a stable and controllable azimuthal direction.

It is well known to suspend the viewing unit 6 in a cable that is not resistant to twisting and to provide the viewing unit 6 with a propeller to rotate it in a desired direction. This process is unstable, difficult to control, complex to set up and often causes undesirable pendular rotational movement about a vertical axis.

There are at least two different ways of making the observation unit 6 rotatable about its vertical axis: at the upper, winch 3; or in the lower part, at the housing (shown in fig. 6) of the observation unit 6. In one embodiment, the observation unit 6 is arranged to be motorized and to azimuthally rotate about a vertical axis, and the winch 3 is motorized and mounted on a bearing (shown in fig. 5) having a vertical axis, provided in the surface buoy 2, and the housing of the observation unit 6 is tightly sealed with respect to the lower end of the node cable 5. Thus, when the winch 3 is azimuthally rotated at the bearings, the entire winch 3 including the anti-torsion node cable 5 with the azimuthally fixed housing rotates as a unit, and the observation unit 6 can be observed in a known and desired azimuthal direction, i.e. a desired point of wrap around. Other mechanisms and/or electronics in the housing 61 may control the inclination of the observation unit 6 in the vertical plane. A significant advantage of this embodiment is that the winch 3 itself is azimuthally rotatable, and that the housing of the observation unit 6 is rigidly and sealingly mounted at the lowest section of the node cable 5. Referring to fig. 2, a significant advantage of this embodiment is the lower hydrostatic pressure at the water surface. Furthermore, the connection between the upper end 51 of the node cable 5 for current/signal transmission in the current/signal turning device (as shown in fig. 5) and the upper end 51 of the node cable 5 wound on the drum of the winch 3 becomes easier to achieve an effective pressure seal when compared to the watertight current/signal transmission of the lower end 52 of the node cable 5 at the bearing (also shown in fig. 6) with the signal/current turning device (as shown in fig. 6) in the housing. In the latter, the hydrostatic pressure is significantly higher than near the surface of the water making it more easily exposed to the water.

In an alternative embodiment shown in fig. 2, in which the azimuth mechanism is arranged lower, the observation unit 6 is arranged to be motorized and to perform an azimuthal rotation about a vertical axis, and the winch 3 is fixed and the housing of the observation unit 6 is mounted on a bearing with a vertical axis at the lower end 52 of the nodal cable 5. Then, in addition to the watertight turning device of fig. 6 with current/signal transmission in the lower end 51 of the node cable 5, a motor will be provided, which is arranged to rotate the housing on the node cable 5.

In one embodiment (as shown in fig. 1), the main span 10 of the surface line 1 is stretched between a first point and a second point on the buoyant ring 9 by two elastic slings 41, 42. The first elastic sling 41 is attached to the floating ring 9 at a first point and is provided with a first set of hooks 44 at a first end of the main span 10, and the second elastic sling 42 is attached to the floating ring 9 at a second point and is provided with a second set of hooks 45 at a second end of the main span 10.

In one embodiment, the second set of hooks 45 is arranged to be movable along the surface cable 1, so that the length of the main span 10 can be adjusted to a desired length depending on whether the structure spanned by the main span 10 is circular or rectangular. The main span 10 of the surface cable 1 then runs as a chord up to the diameter of a circular cylinder, or as the desired line across a rectangular cylinder.

In one embodiment, the first end 13 of the surface cable 1 will extend beyond the first set of hooks 44 and be introduced and connected into the control cabin 7 of the cylinder ring 9, see fig. 1.

Still referring to fig. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the surface buoy 1 comprises, in addition to the main span 10, a continuous extension 12 at the end 11 of the cable that extends beyond the second end of the main span 10 and the second set of hooks 45 and back into the surface buoy 2. The main benefit of this arrangement is that the surface buoy 2 moves along the main span 10 of the surface cable 1 and the supply of electrical energy, the transmission of electrical signals and possible optical connections are all made through the same cable.

In this type of system it is possible to: the surface buoy 2 is fixedly attached to the second end 11 of the surface cable 1 and receives energy and signals from the control cabin 7 via the same surface cable 1 as the buoy 2 moves along the surface cable 1.

The length of the section of the surface line 1, which we denote as "first end", can be adjusted by the operator at the cylinder to the desired length between the control cabin 7 and the first set of hooks 44, so that the appropriate length constitutes the extension section 12 and the buoy 2 can move freely along the entire main span 10. Thus, the first and second sets of hooks 44, 45 in one embodiment are slidable along the surface cable 1 to define the main span 10 and are arranged to be fixed once their position on the surface cable 1 is determined.

In one embodiment, the continuous extension 12 is stretched to a third point on the float ring 9 between the first and second points such that a third elastic sling 43 is attached to the float ring 9 at the first point and is provided with a third set of hooks 46 at about the midpoint of the extension 12 such that the entire surface cable 1 including the main span 10 and the extension 12 is stretched within the aquarium, see fig. 1.

In this embodiment, a single surface cable 1 running inside the cylinder requires: the same cable that stretches the chord of the main span 10 along which the surface buoy 2 moves, and the surface buoy 2 via the second end 11 of the surface cable have galvanic and optical contact. Furthermore, no battery power or similar fragile solution is required to ensure energy supply, and optical or electrical signal transmission can be done from the surface buoy.

The presented viewing unit 6 is easily movable to different fish tanks. There is no need to permanently install equipment at the cylinder edge. Instead, the first, second and third slings 41-43 are attached to the cylinder rim at desired locations. The control cabin 7 is held on the platform and the surface buoy 2 is launched, preferably by a winch, into engagement with the drive wheels 41, 42 on the main span 10. All forces from the surface line 1 and the surface buoy 2 are transmitted via hitches 44-46 resiliently connected to the cylinder edge. This makes the apparatus easier to move between locations and it becomes possible to fine tune the position of the buoy in the cylinder only by means of hitches and slings. Furthermore, since a large part of the surface buoy 2 is submerged, ice accumulation does not cause any problems. The same is true for the winches 3, node lines 5 and observation units 6, since the surface lines 1 run along the water surface.

In an embodiment of the invention, from the other end 11 of the surface line 1 into the housing of the buoy 2, there is provided: the power and signal connections between the control pod 7 and the motorized wheels (as shown in fig. 4) to move the surface buoy 2 backwards and forwards along the main span 10; and power and signal connections for motorized operation of the winch 3 and azimuth control of the rotation of the winch 3 about its vertical axis.

Thus, referring again to fig. 1, the control cabin 7 shown in fig. 1 provides the cylinders with energy and control signals via the surface cable 1 for the following:

moving the surface buoy 2 to a desired position along a main span 10, which extends along the water surface of the cylinder,

operating the winch 3 so that it can raise and lower the observation unit 6 to a desired depth or winch it up all the way,

rotating the observation unit 6 to a desired azimuth direction,

energy and control signals via the node cable 5 for operating the equipment and light sources in the observation unit 6,

energy and control signals via the node cable 5 to orient the device and the light source in the vertical plane.

With respect to fig. 3 and 4, in an embodiment the surface buoy 2 comprises motorized drive wheels 21, 22 arranged to engage with the main span 10 of the surface cable 1, and wherein the drive wheels 21, 22 are arranged to move the surface buoy 2 along the main span 10 to a desired position on the main span 10. The drive wheel may be arranged adjacent to two drive belts of the main span 10. The grip of the drive wheels on the main span 10 stabilizes the azimuthal direction of the surface buoy to some extent, in particular since they are arranged to drive the belt.

In an embodiment, at least one of the drive wheels 21, 22 is arranged to be movable relative to the other drive wheel 21, 22 and to be detachable from the main span 10.

In an embodiment, the surface buoy 2 is provided with at least one guide rail 24 (also shown in fig. 3 and 4) arranged to guide the main span 10 towards the drive wheels 21, 22 and arranged to achieve directional stability of the surface buoy 2 relative to the main span 10. In one embodiment, the guide rail 24 extends through the top section of the surface buoy 2, preferably just above or at the water surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the surface buoy is primarily cylindrical in the vertical direction and has a rather flat top. The illustrated embodiment will largely avoid ice accumulation in the guide rail 24 and between the drive wheels 21, 22, as they will often be washed by waves and may cause the surface buoy 2 to move slowly along the main span 10 if ice accumulation is imminent.

In the embodiment of fig. 6, the observation unit 6 comprises at least one of the following optical units 65, 66 provided in or at the housing 61:

a camera (not visible in fig. 6), arranged to record an image of the fish,

an ultrasonic probe 65, arranged to record an image of the fish or to determine the position of the fish,

a laser 66 arranged to perform at least one of:

the fish is irradiated by the light emitted by the fish,

the position of the fish is detected and determined,

detecting and determining the position of an organism on a fish, an

The organisms on the fish are irradiated and killed,

a light source (not visible in fig. 6), arranged to illuminate the fish, e.g. a LED light source,

hydrological measurement instruments (not visible in fig. 6), such as a salinometer, an oxygen saturation meter, an acoustic sensor, a biosensor, etc.

In an embodiment, at least one optical unit 65, 66 is controllable in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.

By mounting such an apparatus in the observation unit 6, it is possible to control the observation unit to a desired position in the cylinder and to a desired depth at that position, and to direct the sensor in a desired direction, so that the entire volume of the cylinder is adequately accessed from the desired position obtained.