Variable buoyancy profiling float

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9168990-B2
Application number	US-201414504101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Oct 27, 2015
Grant date	Oct 27, 2015

Abstract

In various embodiments a variable buoyancy profiling float is disclosed. The variable buoyancy profiling float may comprise a spherical glass housing comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere. The first and second hemispheres may be coupled by a partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing. A buoyancy system may be located at least partially within the spherical glass housing. The buoyancy system may be configured to provide variable buoyancy control to the variable buoyancy profiling float. A sensor bundle may be mounted to the spherical glass housing and may be configured to measure at least one environmental parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable buoyancy profiling float, comprising:
a spherical glass housing comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, wherein the first and second hemispheres are coupled by a partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing;
a buoyancy engine located at least partially within the spherical glass housing, the buoyancy engine configured to provide variable buoyancy control to the variable buoyancy profiling float, and wherein the buoyancy engine comprises a hydraulic buoyancy system and a pneumatic buoyancy system; and
a sensor bundle configured to measure at least one environmental parameter; and
wherein the partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing comprises an air supply for the pneumatic buoyancy system and the partial vacuum is configured to maintain a sufficient vacuum pressure to seal the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere of the spherical glass housing.

2. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 1 , wherein the spherical glass housing is configured to withstand up to 10,000 psig and is configured to repeat a cycle of descending to a predetermined depth of a body of water, collecting data regarding the at least one environmental parameter via the sensor bundle, ascending to a surface of the body of water, and transmitting the data, wherein the cycle is repeated until a predetermined condition is met.

3. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 1 , wherein the air supply is contained within an air reservoir located within the spherical glass housing to supply the pneumatic system with air.

4. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 3 , wherein the spherical glass housing comprises feed-through connections formed therein.

5. A variable buoyancy profiling float, comprising:
a spherical glass housing comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere coupled by a partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing, the spherical glass housing comprising feed-through connections formed therein; and
a hydraulic buoyancy system comprising:
an oil reservoir located within the spherical glass housing;
at least one oil bladder comprising a tube coupled to an outer surface of the spherical glass housing; and
a pump configured to pump oil from the oil reservoir into the at least one oil bladder;

a pneumatic buoyancy system, wherein the partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing comprises an air supply for the pneumatic buoyancy system and the partial vacuum is configured to maintain sufficient vacuum pressure to seal the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere of the spherical glass housing.

6. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 5 , wherein the oil reservoir and the oil bladder are coupled through the one or more feed-through connections.

7. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic buoyancy system comprises:
a rolling diaphragm located within the oil reservoir; and
a spring coupled to the rolling diaphragm.

8. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 7 , wherein the rolling diaphragm is configured to enable precise measurement of the oil volume within the oil reservoir.

9. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 7 , wherein the spring is configured to maintain a positive pressure to an inlet of the pump.

10. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic buoyancy system comprises an anti-extrusion mechanism.

11. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 10 , wherein the anti-extrusion mechanism comprises a flapper valve configured to prevent extrusion of the at least one oil bladder into the spherical glass housing when a differential pressure develops between the at least one oil bladder and the oil reservoir.

12. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic buoyancy system comprises:
a valve configured to control oil flow between the oil reservoir and the one or more oil bladders, wherein the valve comprises:
a first position configured to enable oil to flow unrestricted from the oil bladder into the reservoir, wherein the oil flow is caused by environmental pressure exerted on the oil bladder;
a second position configured to enable oil to flow restricted from the oil bladder into the reservoir; and
a third position configured to prevent oil flow to and from the oil bladder.

13. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 12 , wherein the hydraulic buoyancy system comprises a flow restrictor valve coupled between the valve and the at least one oil bladder, wherein the flow restrictor valve is configured to provide metering control of the oil returned from the at least one oil bladder into the oil reservoir.

14. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic buoyancy system comprises a flexible hydraulic line configured to enable separation of the first and second hemispheres of the spherical glass housing while maintaining a hydraulic connection between the oil reservoir, the pump, and the one or more feed-through connections.

15. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 5 , wherein the pneumatic buoyancy system comprises at least one external reservoir coupled to the outer circumference of the spherical glass housing.

16. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 15 , wherein the partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing is utilized by the pneumatic buoyancy system as an air source for the at least one external reservoir.

17. A variable buoyancy profiling float, comprising:
a spherical glass housing comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere coupled by a partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing comprising feed-through connections formed therein, the spherical glass housing defining one or more access ports; and
a buoyancy engine located at least partially within the spherical glass housing, the buoyancy engine configured to provide variable buoyancy control to the variable buoyancy profiling float;
wherein the partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing comprises an air supply for the buoyancy engine and the partial vacuum is configured to maintain sufficient vacuum pressure to seal the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere of the spherical glass housing.

18. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 17 , wherein the feed-through connections pass through the one or more access ports defined by the spherical glass housing.

19. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 17 , wherein the one or more access ports comprises a pattern configured to maintain structural integrity of the spherical glass housing and to distribute a load on the spherical glass housing.

20. The variable buoyancy profiling float of claim 19 , wherein at least two of the access ports are located on opposite sides of the spherical glass housing.

Assignees

• Teledyne Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Webb Douglas C
• Belcher Mark
• Bovie Lawrence
• Correllus Robert
• Elskamp Andrew
• Fargher Hugh E
• Patterson Thomas
• Petzrick Ernest
• Pingal David
• Ryan Daniel
• Sealey Andrew
• Streeter Clyde
• Truman James
• Wallace William
• Arruda Steven
• Melvin Ii Robert G
• Altshuler Thomas W

Classifications

• B63B22/18 Primary

  having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether · CPC title

• B63G8/24 Primary

  Automatic depth adjustment; Safety equipment for increasing buoyancy, e.g. detachable ballast, floating bodies · CPC title

• B63G8/001

  Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42) · CPC title

• G01C13/00

  Surveying specially adapted to open water, e.g. sea, lake, river or canal (liquid level metering G01F) · CPC title

• B63G2008/004

  autonomously operating · CPC title