Bathythermograph buoy and associated method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021072094-A1
Application number	US-201916567829-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2019
Priority date	Sep 11, 2019
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bathythermograph buoy and an associated method of operation are provided to measure temperature and/or optionally other parameter(s) within an ocean or another body of water. A bathythermograph buoy includes a housing and one or more sensors carried by the housing and configured to repeatedly measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy descends. The bathythermograph buoy of one example also includes a memory carried by the housing and configured to store representations of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors. The bathythermograph buoy further includes a buoyancy modification device configured to increase buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy to permit the bathythermograph buoy to ascend.

First claim

1 . A bathythermograph buoy comprising:
a housing; one or more sensors carried by the housing and configured to repeatedly measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy descends; a memory carried by the housing and configured to store representations of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors; and a buoyancy modification device configured to increase buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy to permit the bathythermograph buoy to ascend.

2 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit at least some of the representations of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors and stored by the memory.

3 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 2 further comprising a surface flotation device configured to be or remain inflated during operation of the transmitter.

4 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 1 further comprising a receiver configured to receive instructions regarding at least some of the operations of the bathythermograph buoy.

5 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises ballast and the second portion carries the memory, and wherein the buoyancy modification device is configured to release the first portion of the housing to permit the second portion of the housing to ascend without the first portion of the housing.

6 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 5 wherein the one or more sensors are carried by the first portion of the housing.

7 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 5 wherein the one or more sensors are carried by the second portion of the housing and are also configured to measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy ascends.

8 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy modification device comprises a flotation device configured to be inflated following descent to at least a predefined depth.

9 . A bathythermograph buoy comprising:
a receiver configured to receive instructions regarding at least some of operations of the bathythermograph buoy; a housing; one or more sensors carried by the housing and configured to repeatedly measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy descends; a buoyancy modification device configured to increase buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy to permit the bathythermograph buoy to ascend; and a transmitter configured to transmit representations of at least some of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors following the increase in buoyancy provided by the buoyancy modification device.

10 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 9 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit representations of at least some of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors once the bathythermograph buoy reaches a surface.

11 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 9 further comprising a surface flotation device configured to be or remain inflated during operation of the transmitter.

12 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises a ballast and the second portion carries a memory, and wherein the buoyancy modification device is configured to release the first portion of the housing to permit the second portion of the housing to ascend without the first portion of the housing.

13 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 12 wherein the one or more sensors are carried by the first portion of the housing.

14 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 12 wherein the one or more sensors are carried by the second portion of the housing and are also configured to measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy ascends.

15 . The bathythermograph buoy of claim 9 wherein the buoyancy modification device comprises a flotation device configured to be inflated following descent to at least a predefined depth.

16 . A method of operating a bathythermograph buoy, the method comprising:
launching the bathythermograph buoy such that the bathythermograph buoy descends through a body of water; measuring one or more parameters with one or more sensors of the bathythermograph buoy as the bathythermograph buoy descends; increasing the buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy following descent of the bathythermograph buoy to at least a predefined depth; and following increase in the buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy, transmitting representations of the one or more parameters measured by the one or more sensors.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising storing representations of the one or more parameters measured by the one or more sensors prior to ascent of the bathythermograph buoy and transmission of the representations of the one or more parameters.

18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising inflating a surface flotation device or causing the surface flotation device to remain inflated while transmitting the representations of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors.

19 . The method of claim 16 wherein the bathythermograph buoy comprises a housing comprising first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises ballast, and wherein increasing the buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy comprises releasing the first portion of the housing to permit the second portion of the housing to ascend without the first portion of the housing.

20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more sensors are carried by the second portion of the housing, and wherein the method further comprises measuring one or more parameters with the one or more sensors as the second portion of the housing of the bathythermograph buoy ascends.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Greenfield Michael Jeffrey
• Mosten Randall L

Classifications

• G01K1/024

  for remote indication · CPC title

• G01K1/022

  for recording · CPC title

• B63B2022/006

  specially adapted for measuring or watch purposes · CPC title

• B63B22/06

  with means to cause the buoy to surface in response to a transmitted signal {(B63B22/023 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B63B22/003 Primary

  adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water · CPC title