RU230728U1 - Underwater navigation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of diving equipment for orienting divers underwater in a given water area at distances exceeding the range of visual visibility of landmarks. An underwater navigation panel is created, containing a navigation system, wherein the navigation system includes an electronic unit placed in a sealed housing, containing a controller, a color matrix screen, a battery, an electronic three-axis accelerometer, an electronic magnetic compass, a depth sensor, the input nipple of which is hermetically brought out. Moreover, a porthole, a waterproof charging connector, a lag speed sensor connector and electric control buttons are hermetically installed on the housing of the electronic unit, and the electronic unit itself is inserted and pressed through the front panel to the frame, which is made with the possibility of holding it with hands when moving underwater. A lag speed sensor, a backup compass, a backup depth sensor and a plug are rigidly fixed to the frame. In this case, the output of the lag speed sensor is connected via a cable connector and a lag speed sensor connector to the controller input, the outputs of the immersion depth sensor, electronic three-axis accelerometer, electronic magnetic compass, electric control buttons and battery are connected to the corresponding controller inputs, and the controller output is connected to a color matrix screen. The technical result consists in expanding the arsenal of technical means for underwater navigation of divers due to an underwater navigation panel that is easy to learn and operate when performing underwater technical work.

Description

The field of technology to which the utility model relates

The utility model relates to the field of diving technology for orienting divers underwater in a given water area at distances exceeding the range of visual visibility of landmarks.

State of the art

Underwater navigation systems for divers are extremely necessary for the successful execution of underwater technical work, movement along specified routes, coordination of diving groups, etc.

Traditionally, the minimum necessary devices for a diver are a depth gauge, a watch and a magnetic compass. They provide the ability to control the safety of diving. More modern solutions available on the market are navigation devices with an indication of the magnetic course and depth on the screen.

A hydroacoustic underwater navigation system for divers and an underwater diver unit are known, intended for the precise determination of the location of divers, movement along a given route, for a significant increase in safety and the elimination of disruption to the life of divers during the performance of work and while underwater, comprising a support vessel with equipment located thereon, at least one beacon, a hydroacoustic transmitter-receiver, an external navigation system receiver, a depth determination device, a timer, a display device, into which a first hydroacoustic transmitter-receiver located on the support vessel, an underwater diver unit are additionally introduced, which contains an echo sounder, a Doppler log, at least one biometric sensor, a heading, roll, and trim sensor, a second external navigation system receiver, a second hydroacoustic transmitter-receiver, a depth determination device, a timer, a computing unit that calculates the current coordinates based on data received from the echo sounder, Doppler log, heading, roll, and trim sensor, trim, receivers of the external navigation system (RU 110503, 20.11.2011).

Their disadvantage is the difficulty of reliable orientation when moving through the water area, especially in the absence or poor visibility of any bottom landmarks.

The closest technical solution to the claimed device is a device for autonomous navigation of a diver, containing a navigation unit and a battery unit. The navigation unit contains a strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS), a pressure sensor, a Doppler hydroacoustic log (DGL), an information display module, and a GPS/GLONASS satellite navigation system receiver placed on the outer surface of the housing, in a buoy, all housed in a sealed housing. The SINS contains a board of microelectromechanical inertial sensors, on which three-axis sensors of a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer are placed. The DGL is made according to a four-beam scheme with an angle of deviation from the vertical of 30° and an angle of rotation of 45° from the direction of movement. The housing is made with a sealed USB input connector for loading sea maps of the area of underwater research or navigation. The device increases the accuracy of underwater diver positioning and navigation in any conditions, expands functionality by navigating along route checkpoints using electronic sea charts and adjusting them at any time, taking into account the current trajectory of the diver and satellite navigation system data (RU 172196, 30.06.2017). The disadvantages of this device are that it is a complex-to-use underwater navigation hydroacoustic system, and the Doppler log used has a maximum depth limit under the diver, since it receives the acoustic signal emitted by it from the bottom (from practice, such logs operate stably to depths of no more than a hundred meters).

The essence of the utility model

The objective of the claimed utility model is to eliminate the shortcomings inherent in the closest analogue, as well as to improve the operational characteristics, namely the operation of the underwater navigation panel without receiving signals from the global satellite navigation system and the ability to measure the speed of movement of the diver relative to the aquatic environment using the lag speed sensor used.

The technical result consists in expanding the arsenal of technical means for underwater navigation of divers due to an underwater navigation panel that is easy to learn and operate when performing underwater technical work.

The technical result is achieved in that an underwater navigation panel is created, containing a navigation system, wherein the navigation system includes an electronic unit placed in a sealed housing, containing a controller, a color matrix screen, a battery, an electronic three-axis accelerometer, an electronic magnetic compass, an immersion depth sensor, the input fitting of which is hermetically brought out, wherein a porthole, a waterproof charging connector, a lag speed sensor connector and electric control buttons are hermetically installed on the housing of the electronic unit, and the electronic unit itself is inserted and pressed through the front panel to the frame, which is made with the possibility of holding it by hand when moving underwater, a lag speed sensor, a backup compass, a backup depth sensor and a plug are rigidly fixed to the frame, wherein the output of the lag speed sensor is connected through a cable connector and a lag speed sensor connector to the input of the controller, the outputs of the immersion depth sensor, the electronic three-axis accelerometer, the electronic magnetic compass, the electric control buttons and the battery packs are connected to the corresponding inputs of the controller, and the controller output is connected to the color matrix screen.

Brief description of the drawings

The essence of the utility model is explained by figures.

Fig. 1 shows a general view of the underwater navigation panel from above.

Fig. 2 shows a general view of the underwater navigation panel from below.

Fig. 3 shows a general view of the frame.

Fig. 4 shows a general view of the electronic unit from above.

Fig. 5 shows a general view of the electronic unit from below.

Fig. 6 shows a section of the electronic unit with a simplified image of the internal components.

Fig. 7 shows an impeller-type lag speed sensor.

Fig. 8 shows the functional diagram of the underwater navigation panel.

Fig. 9 shows a diagram of the navigation parameters of the underwater navigation panel.

The figures show: 1 - frame; 2 - electronic unit; 3 - front panel; 4 - electronic unit screws; 5 - lag speed sensor; 6 - backup depth sensor; 7 - backup compass; 8 - nut; 9 - lag speed sensor screws; 10 - plug; 11 - electronic unit housing; 12 - lower housing cover; 13 - porthole clamp; 14 - porthole; 15 - waterproof charging connector; 16, 32-38 - electric control buttons; 17 - electronic magnetic compass inlet fitting; 18 - lower cover screws; 19 - lag speed sensor connector; 20 - lower cover rubber seal; 21 - porthole gasket; 22 - porthole rubber seal; 23 - controller; 24 - color matrix screen; 25 - immersion depth sensor; 26 - electronic three-axis accelerometer; 27 - electronic magnetic compass; 28 - battery; 29 - porthole screws; 30 - cable; 31 - cable connector; 39 - rubber sealing ring for the fitting; 40 and 41 - through rectangular holes for the safety belt, 42 - through hole in the side wall of the frame.

The underwater navigation panel is a portable manual device of underwater design with neutral buoyancy. At the same time, it contains a navigation system, which includes an electronic unit 2, placed in a sealed housing 11 with a lower cover 12, hermetically mounted on screws 18 through a rubber seal 20. In the sealed housing 11 of the electronic unit 2, a controller 23, a color matrix screen 24, a battery 28, an electronic three-axis accelerometer 26, an electronic magnetic compass 27, a depth sensor 25, the inlet nipple 17 of which is hermetically brought out by means of a rubber sealing ring 39 from the side of the lower cover 12 are installed.

On the front side of the sealed housing 11, the porthole 14 is hermetically mounted through the rubber seal 22, by means of the clamp 13, the gasket 21 and the screws 29. Also mounted on the sealed housing 11 are the waterproof charging connector 15, the lag speed sensor connector 19 and the electric control buttons 16, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. In turn, the electronic unit 2 is inserted and pressed to the frame 1 through the front panel 3 and is installed together with the front panel 3 by screws 4. The lag speed sensor 5 and the backup compass 7 are secured to the frame 1 by screws 9. The backup depth sensor 6 is also secured to the frame 1 by nut 8. The plug 10 is screwed into the waterproof charging connector 15 through a through hole 42 in the side wall of the frame 1. The sensor lag speed 5 is connected to lag speed connector 19 of electronic unit 2 via cable 30 with connector 31. On frame 1 there are two through rectangular openings 40 and 41 through which any safety belt can be passed and secured for tying the navigation panel to the diver's body, vessel, bottom or shore structures. There is also a through opening 42 for plug 10.

In this case, the output of the lag speed sensor 5 is connected via the cable connector 31 and the lag speed sensor connector 19 to the input of the controller 23. The outputs of the immersion depth sensor 25, the electronic three-axis accelerometer 26, the electronic magnetic compass 27, the electric control buttons 16, 32-38 and the battery 28 are connected to the corresponding inputs of the controller 23. The output of the controller 23 is connected to the input of the color matrix screen 24. The output of the waterproof charging connector 15 is connected to the input of the battery 28.

Detailed description of the implementation of the utility model

The underwater navigation panel operates as follows (see Fig. 1-9).

The main unit of the underwater navigation panel is the electronic unit 2, into the controller 23 of which the software of the underwater navigation panel is loaded. The underwater navigation panel is controlled by sealed control buttons 16, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. The color matrix screen 24 displays the underwater navigation panel control menu and navigation information through the porthole 14. The controller 23 receives power from the battery 28.

Before starting work, it is necessary to charge the battery 28. To do this, unscrew the plug 10 in the through hole 42 and connect the external charger to the waterproof charging connector 15. After charging is complete, disconnect the external charger, then connect the personal computer to the waterproof charging connector 15 via an external cable. From it, an electronic 2D raster map of the current water area is loaded into the device. Disconnect the external cable and screw in the plug 10, the device is ready for work.

By pressing button 16, a command is given to start the underwater navigation panel, and initial initialization occurs. Then, from the lag speed sensor 5, the immersion depth sensor 25, the electronic three-axis accelerometer 26, the electronic magnetic compass 27, information about the lag speed of the underwater navigation panel, the current immersion depth, and accelerations along the three axes X, Y, Z begins to continuously arrive at the controller inputs. The diagram of the measured parameters is shown in Figure 9.

Map point binding mode

The diver takes up a position in the water area in maximum proximity to a characteristic landmark object, clearly identified both in the water area and on the electronic map.

By pressing the electronic control button 32 (Enter), the mode of binding to a point on the map is switched on. By pressing the electronic control buttons 33, 34, 35, 36 (Up, Down, Left, Right, respectively), the map displayed on the screen is moved until the cursor on the map coincides with the sought landmark. By pressing the electronic control button 32 (Enter), the cursor on the map is bound to the current position of the underwater navigation panel, it switches to the Position indication mode. In this mode, the underwater navigation panel continuously integrates the acceleration values along the X and Y axes over time, which is displayed on the color matrix screen 24 as the current position of the underwater navigation panel relative to the binding point. In addition, the magnetic azimuth of the underwater navigation panel, the current immersion depth, the current time, the battery charge level and the temperature in the electronic unit 2 are continuously displayed.

Navigation while moving

The diver takes the underwater navigation panel in his hands, holds it in front of him at a distance convenient for him and starts moving in the water (using fins or the diver transport device). The underwater navigation panel has neutral buoyancy and therefore does not create inconveniences with the control of its surfacing/submersion. The log speed sensor 5 is washed by the oncoming water flow and shows the log speed of the diver (i.e. his speed relative to the water). The value of this speed is also used to solve navigation problems, calculate muscle energy expenditure or the reserve of the battery 28 of the diver transport device (calculation of the reserve of underwater movement available to the diver).

Movement by target points

An important feature of the underwater navigation panel is the ability to remember multiple target points on the map.

The points are pre-plotted onto an electronic map on a personal computer before it is loaded into the underwater navigation panel.

When selecting any such point from the list (pressing electronic control button 37, then selecting electronic control buttons 33 and 34 (Up/Down), then pressing electronic control button 32 (Enter)) the underwater navigation panel switches to the Guidance mode. In this case, the screen dynamically displays the arrow of the direction to the target point and the distance to it. As the diver moves in the water, the current position on the map, the lag speed, the direction to the selected target point, the current magnetic azimuth of the panel, the depth of immersion, the distance traveled from the starting point, the estimated time remaining to the target point, and the current time are displayed.

Thus, the declared utility model is more ergonomic, does not contain expensive components, and is therefore easier to learn and operate, less energy-intensive, which increases the operating time with the possibility of working at great depth.

Claims (1)

An underwater navigation panel containing a navigation system, characterized in that the navigation system includes an electronic unit placed in a sealed housing, which contains a controller, a color matrix screen, a battery, an electronic three-axis accelerometer, an electronic magnetic compass, a depth sensor, the input fitting of which is hermetically brought out, and a porthole, a waterproof charging connector, a lag speed sensor connector and electric control buttons are hermetically mounted on the housing of the electronic unit, and the electronic unit itself is inserted and pressed through the front panel to a frame, which is made with the possibility of holding it by hand when moving underwater, a lag speed sensor, a backup compass, a backup depth sensor and a plug are rigidly fixed to the frame, wherein the output of the lag speed sensor is connected through a cable connector and a lag speed sensor connector to the input of the controller, the outputs of the immersion depth sensor, the electronic three-axis accelerometer, the electronic magnetic compass, the electric control buttons and the battery are connected with the corresponding controller inputs, and the controller output is connected to the color matrix screen.