RU2233230C2 - Method of detection of emergency underwater object lying on ground and device for realization of this method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: search and salvage of underwater objects.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method consists in furnishing coded sonar signal at surfacing of floating information salvage unit of emergency object, recording information from radio transmitting unit and determination of distance between search vessel and floating information salvage unit; simultaneously, search vessel checks switching-on of sonar beacon and records information transmitted by beacon for determination of relative bearing to emergency underwater object and bearing for motion of search vessel to floating information salvage unit; at surfacing of floating information salvage unit, emergency information is recorded; at approach of search vessel to floating information salvage unit, cables are connected to communication with emergency underwater object. Device for detection of object includes at least one floating information salvage unit having housing, command unit with self-contained power supply source and release; arranged in housing are recorder and sonar beacon with antenna; recorder is connected with all rooms of object by means of cables; cables from recorder are brought to connectors found on external surface of upper semi-sphere of housing to which cables running from search vessel are connected; cables from recorder are brought to radio transmitting units and to sonar beacon; similar cables are brought to connectors on external side of housing of floating information salvage unit and to radio transmitting units past recorder; device includes also protective unit for avoidance of unauthorized action on release and on sonar beacon of recorder.

EFFECT: extended range of detection; enhanced reliability of information.

9 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the search and rescue of an emergency underwater object and can be used to create technical systems for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground (inhabited underwater vehicle, underwater vehicle, underwater tanker, tourist submarine, etc.), and also for creating rescue equipment and assisting the crew and passengers of an emergency underwater facility. The invention can be applied to surface ships.

There is a method of detecting underwater objects lying on the ground using a trawl that is towed by one or two search vessels [1]. The method is very laborious, the width of the search, the probability of quick detection of the desired object among other wrecks is negligible.

Known phase parametric side-scan sonar for searching and recognition of bottom and silty objects by processing reflected sonar signals [2]. The method has a limited detection range, a small search width, requires a large radiation power, since it requires the reception and processing of reflected hydroacoustic signals of sufficient power.

The closest technical solution to the claimed invention is a method of irradiation of underwater objects with a set of special sonar signals [3]. The disadvantage of this method is the limited detection range, since the search object is identified by the reflected signals, hence the impossibility of its quick detection among other flooded vessels and other objects. In addition, the method has limited functionality.

The known method implemented in a radio-acoustic device for remote disconnection of an underwater product and monitoring its location on the sea surface [4], which consists in the fact that the search space of the underwater product is irradiated with a hydroacoustic encoded broadband control signal for remote disconnection of the product, after the product ascends to surface record information of the product’s radio transmitter, determine the distance between the search vessel and the surfaced product, when approaching to it the search vessel lifts the product on board. The disadvantages of the method (adopted as a prototype) in relation to a new purpose: limited functionality, in particular it is impossible to obtain "emergency" information about the sunken object, etc.

A device for detecting a sunken underwater object is a pop-up tool (in the form of a buoy), mounted on an underwater object (underwater vehicle) with the possibility of its separation from the underwater object by means of an actuator, having a flexible connection connected at one end to the buoy and the other to the body underwater vehicle [5]. The disadvantage of this device is its limited functionality.

Known buoy system containing a buoy with a flexible with positive buoyancy, associated with an underwater object with the possibility of separation from the underwater object through the actuator [6]. The device also has limited functionality.

The closest technical solution (adopted as a prototype) to the claimed device is an autonomous pop-up buoy containing a housing connected to an underwater object, a command device with a battery connected to a disconnector, through which the housing is connected to an underwater object [7].

The disadvantage of this device is its limited functionality. The disadvantages of the known method and device adopted for the prototype are that they do not allow to quickly determine the location of the underwater object on the ground, to obtain the required information from the object about the causes of the accident, the nature of the damage, the condition of the crew and passengers, about the help needed, about decisions made by the captain, etc. As a result, the adoption of informed decisions for rescue and helping people is delayed.

The technical result of the method for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground is a quick (until the AISS emerges and is detected on the surface) and an accurate determination of the location of this object on the ground and the location of the alleged AISS ascent to the surface, prompt receipt of "emergency" information (already on approach of the search vessel to the location of the object on the ground) with high probability due to duplication of various sources of this information. Also, as a result of the method, it becomes possible to provide first aid to passengers and the crew of the facility.

The technical result of the method for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground is achieved by the fact that when the search space for the emergency underwater object is irradiated with a coded acoustic signal assigned to this object, they simultaneously monitor the inclusion of the VISS hydroacoustic beacon belonging to the object and record the transmitted hydroacoustic beacon “ emergency ”information (for example, object coordinates, depth, roll, trim, condition of the emergency object, possible causes of the accident, the measures taken to eliminate the accident, etc., as well as messages from the premises of the facility where the crew and passengers are located), according to the signals of the sonar beacon, specify the bearing on the search object and the distance to it, as well as the bearing for movement to the VISS pop-up, and when surfacing it to the surface at the command of the search means record “emergency” information broadcast by the VISS radio and television transmitting equipment.

The technical result of the device for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground is to expand its functionality, namely increasing the likelihood of quick detection of an emergency underwater object, promptly receiving reliable “emergency” information from the object about the condition of the object, crew and passengers, etc. , as well as the ability to provide first aid.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that in the case of the VISS belonging to the underwater object, place a "black box" of the object and a sonar beacon. Telephone, television and measuring cables are connected to the “black box” for recording from all premises of the facility, in which the crew and passengers are accommodated, and microphones, video cameras, room condition sensors (temperature, gas content, height of the liquid column in the room, etc.) are installed .). From the “black box” the cables are led to the sonar beacon, radio-transmitting equipment and connectors located on the outer surface of the upper sphere of the body of the pop-up rescue vehicle. The “black box” provides independent channels for recording and playing back “emergency” information on the facility as a whole, as well as for information from the premises of the underwater facility, where the crew and passengers are accommodated. When connecting the cable from the search tool to the connectors, the “emergency” and other information is read from the “black box”. Telephone and television cables from the living quarters of the facility, bypassing the “black box”, are connected to the connectors on the VISS housing and to the radio-transmitting equipment. Using these connectors, when connecting cables from a search vessel, audio and video communication is established with the crew and passengers.

To return the VISS to the ascent, a command device is provided that includes a unit for receiving hydroacoustic signals, a decoder for comparing the signal code from the search means and the code assigned to this underwater tool, an executive signal generating unit for returning the VISS and a disconnector. To protect against unauthorized impact on the return of the VISS and the inclusion in the operation of the sonar beacon between the block forming the Executive signal and the circuit breaker installed protection unit. The inputs of the protection unit are connected to the control panel of the facility and signaling devices from the inhabited premises about the emergency situation in the room. The outputs of the protection unit are connected with a breaker and a sonar beacon. The protection unit passes the executive signal from the command device to the disconnector to return the VISS for ascent and to turn on the sonar beacon when three conditions are fulfilled: if the speed and depth under the keel are equal to zero (signals about this come to the protection unit from the control panel) and confirmation from the control panel or any inhabited premises (if the control panel fails) about the accident of the underwater object as a whole and the emergency situation in the premises and the need for urgent outside help.

Flexible hoses with positive buoyancy are connected to the pop-up rescue vehicle at one end and to the underwater object at the other end to supply the crew with fresh air, oxygen, liquid food, fire extinguishing means, to remove contaminated air, etc.

In case of failure of the object below the maximum immersion depth, the VISS is given automatically with the simultaneous inclusion of a sonar beacon. At the same time, all equipment inside the VISS casing is also automatically connected to autonomous power sources, and the cables and flexible hoses are separated from the VISS casing.

The result of the technical solution of the invention will be the acceleration of the search and determination of the flooding of the emergency underwater object, the prompt receipt of "emergency" information on the state of the object from the records of the "black box", including from all rooms where the crew and passengers are located. As a result, informed decision-making will be accelerated to rescue and assist the crew of the emergency facility, in particular, by transferring to the emergency facility the necessary means of ensuring vital functions and saving the crew.

We will consider the device using an example of an underwater vehicle having three inhabited premises and one VISS. In Fig.1 schematically presents VISS, Fig.2 is a diagram of a device for recoil VISS and turn on the sonar beacon, figure 3 shows schematically the underwater vehicle itself.

The device includes VISS 1 of an underwater object 2, which contains a housing 3, a “black box” 4 connected by cables 5 to the control panel 6, with sensor blocks 7 (temperature, gas composition, height of the liquid column in the room, etc.) , microphones 8 and video cameras 9 located in the premises of the object, a sonar beacon 10 with an antenna 11, a radio transmission equipment 12 with antennas 13, connectors 14 and 14 'on the housing 3 for connecting cables 15 and 15' from the search facility with channel switches 16 and 16 ', telephone and television cables 17 from the premises of the facility for communication with the crew and passengers, telephone and television cables 17 'to the radio-transmitting equipment 12 for radio-telephone and video communications, emergency power sources 18, multi-core cable-cable 19, connecting the VISS 3 body with underwater object 2, as well as flexible hoses 20. To return VISS 1 from the object (and turn on the sonar beacon 10), a command device 21 is provided as part of a unit for receiving hydro-acoustic signals 22, a decoder 23, an executive signal generating unit 2 4 and the battery 25, the protection unit 26, signaling devices 27 for transmitting to the protection unit 26 a signal confirming the necessity of returning the VISS from the premises of the object (I, II, III), the circuit breaker 28. In this case, all information from the premises of the underwater object is parallel to control panel (not shown in figure 3).

A method for detecting an emergency underwater object is implemented as follows.

A search tool (ship, aircraft, etc.), being in the proposed area of laying emergency underwater object 2 on the ground, using sonar (stations and / or hydrophones) irradiates the search space with the encoded sonar signal that is assigned to this object. Simultaneously with the search means they monitor the possible inclusion (at a known frequency) of the sonar beacon 10 VISS belonging to the emergency facility. When turned on, beacon 10 transmits “emergency” information from the “black box” 4, which is recorded on board the search facility for analysis and preparation of a solution to assist the facility, its crew and passengers. According to the first values of the bearing to the lighthouse 10, the direction to the emergency underwater object and the distance to it are determined, by subsequent bearings they find the place of the alleged VISS ascent, where the search tool is directed. When VISS appears on the surface, “emergency” information is recorded from the object broadcast by its radio-transmitting equipment 12. If necessary, they will arrange radiotelephone or video communication with any of the premises where people can be located by command from a search tool.

A device for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground works as follows.

The hydro-acoustic encoded signal enters the command device 21 (blocks 22, 23, 24) (Fig. 2), where it is received by the signal receiving unit 22 and transmitted to the decryption unit 23 to compare the signal code with the code of the underwater object. When the codes are completely identical, an executive signal is generated in block 24 to send the rescue pop-up device 1. From block 24, the executive signal is sent to the protection block 26. The purpose of the protection block is to prevent the VISS from returning to the ascent (and the start of the sonar beacon) during normal operation of the underwater the object through the fault of the crew, passengers or for other reasons. The VISS is returned to the ascent when the emergency object is on the ground when three conditions are fulfilled: equality to zero, speed and depth under the keel (when the entire body of the object or part of it rests on the ground). Data on the speed and depth under the keel are received in the protection unit 26 from the control panel 6 (figure 3). However, these two conditions are also characteristic of a non-emergency underwater object lying on the ground. Therefore, the third condition is introduced. A special signal from the control panel 6 about the emergency condition of the underwater object and the need for urgent outside assistance or, if the control panel fails, at least from one room (I, II, III) where the crew and passengers for example, by pressing the button 27. In this case, confirmation from the control panel 6 is priority. From the protection unit 26, the executive signal, when all three conditions are met, is supplied to the circuit breaker 28, which gives the VISS for ascent. At the same time, the executive signal from block 26 turns on the hydroacoustic beacon 10 located in the VISS building 3, which immediately starts transmitting “emergency” information from the “black box” 4 located in the same VISS building. The volume and composition of “emergency” information in each individual case depends on the characteristics of the purpose and operation, on the characteristics of the underwater object. Recording on the search facility messages hydroacoustic lighthouse 10 during the ascent of the VISS will begin preparations for the provision of assistance and rescue of people in the emergency underwater object and the object itself. If the VISS does not reach the surface of the water for one reason or another (the depth of the sea is slightly greater than the length of the flexible connection 19 connecting the VISS to the object, or this connection is not completely given in, hooked on the protruding parts of the object’s body ...), the work of the lighthouse will allow detect VISS and extract it from the water. If there are several VISSs and, consequently, several sonar beacons on an underwater object, each beacon operates at its own frequency. When turned on, the beacons transmit their number and “emergency” information recorded in the “black box”. Moreover, the sonar beacon can also work if VISS is not given by the breaker 28 for ascent for one reason or another.

From the moment VISS ascends to the surface, radio-transmitting equipment 12 with antennas 13 is switched on, which continues to transmit “emergency” information from the “black box” 4 both for search tools (in full) and to the COSPAS- satellite rescue system SARSAT ”(strictly limited volume). A search tool records “emergency” information from the air to plan priority measures to save the crew, passengers, the underwater object and provide assistance. Communication via radio telephone is established through equipment 12, to which telephone cables 17 ’are connected from all inhabited premises, with the crew and passengers, the state of people, the situation in emergency rooms, the state of emergency and rescue equipment, etc. are specified.

After detecting the VISS on the surface, the search facility (ship, boat or boat from the ship) approaches the VISS and, if it is not possible to lift it on board, connect the cables 15 and 15 'with channel switches 16 and 16' to the connectors 14 and 14 'located on the outer upper sphere of the hull 3 VISS. Connecting the cable 15 with the channel selector 16 to the connector 14 allows you to overwrite the required “emergency” and other information from the “black box” without opening the VISS case. Connecting a 15 ’cable with a channel selector 16’ to the 14 ’connectors of telephone and television cables 17 coming from all inhabited premises allows you to establish audio and video communication with the crew and passengers of any room of the underwater object.

VISS, if conditions permit, can be immediately taken aboard a search vessel. In addition to establishing real-time communication with people, the supply of flexible hoses 20 can be arranged upon request from the emergency underwater facility of the necessary means of ensuring the livelihoods of people, priority assistance is given to the crew and passengers by supplying fresh air through the hoses and removing contaminated, by supplying liquid food, oxygen, fire extinguishing means, etc.

From the description of the invention it is seen that the method for detecting an emergency object lying on the ground, and a device for its implementation are combined by a single inventive concept.

Sources of information

1. A.S. No. 861172, USSR. 1981

2. Russian Patent No. 2039366, 6 G 01 S 15/00, 1995

3. Patent of Russia No. 2008692, 5 G 01 S 15/96, 1994

4. Patent of Russia №2167430, G 01 S 3/00, 2001

5. Sagalevich A.M. Oceanology and underwater habitable vehicles. M., 1987, p. 76-77.

6. Patent of Russia No. 2029708, 6 В 63 С 7/26, 1995.

7. Patent of Russia №2025395, 5 В 63 В 22/06, 1994

Claims (9)

1. A method for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground, consisting in the fact that the search space is irradiated from the search vessel with a coded hydroacoustic signal assigned to this object, when surfacing to the surface of a pop-up information and rescue vehicle (VISS) belonging to the emergency object, they record information from the radio transmitting equipment of this tool and determine the distance between the search vessel and VISS, characterized in that at the same time as the search space is irradiated, the coding With the help of a hydro-acoustic signal on a search vessel, they monitor the inclusion of the VISS hydro-acoustic beacon into operation and record the emergency information transmitted by the hydro-acoustic beacon: object coordinates, depth, roll, trim, condition of the emergency object, possible causes of the accident, decisions of the captain to eliminate the accident, rescue passengers and crew; the signals from the hydroacoustic beacon determine the bearing on the emergency underwater object and the bearing for moving the search vessel to the VISS, when the VISS ascends to the surface, it records emergency information transmitted by its radio and television transmitting equipment, when the search vessel approaches the VISS, cables are connected to establish telephone and television communications with the premises , passengers and crew of the emergency facility. 2. A device for detecting an emergency underwater object lying on the ground, consisting of at least one VISS, containing a housing connected to the underwater object by flexible communication, a command device with an autonomous power source and a disconnector, characterized in that the black VISS is placed a box of an underwater object and a sonar beacon with an antenna, while telephone, television and measuring cables from all the premises of the facility where the crew and passengers are located and where installed There are microphones, video cameras, and room condition sensors: temperature, gas content, height of the liquid column in the room, and others, while emergency information and messages of passengers and crew are recorded in a black box through their separate channels, from the black box for reading emergency information, the cables are connected to to the connectors on the outer surface of the upper hemisphere of the hull, to which the cables are connected from the search vessel, from the black box the cables are connected to the radio-transmitting equipment and to the sonar beacon with an antenna for direct telephone and video communication with the inhabited premises of the sunken object, similar telephone and television cables, bypassing the black box, are connected to the connectors on the external part of the VISS casing and to the VISS radio-transmitting and television equipment for providing radiotelephone and video communications, in addition, the device contains a protection unit against unauthorized exposure to the circuit breaker and sonar beacon of the black box. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cables from the search vessel, connected to the connectors, are equipped with a channel selector according to the number of rooms in which there are crew and passengers, taking into account emergency and other information channels for reading from the black box, and power supply channel to the black box. 4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that if there are several sonar beacons at the facility, each beacon operates at its own frequency, when turned on, the beacons transmit their number and emergency information recorded in a black box. 5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the inputs of the protection block against unauthorized return to the VISS ascent and the inclusion of a hydroacoustic beacon in operation are connected to the command device, the control panel of the underwater object and to all rooms where the crew and passengers are located, and the outputs of the unit the protection is connected to the disconnector and the sonar beacon, and the protection unit passes the executive signal from the command device to actuate the breaker (return VISS) and turn on the sonar beacon only at the same time nnom three conditions: speed equal to zero stroke underwater object; equality to zero of the depth under the keel; a signal is received from the control panel of the underwater object or (if the console fails) from at least one room where there is a crew, passengers, about the emergency condition of the object, the room and the need for urgent outside help. 6. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the emergency information is transmitted via a sonar beacon when the VISS is under water and transmitted to the search means through the antennas of the radio-transmitting equipment after it emerges to the surface. 7. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the power supply of the black box, sonar beacon, command device and all other devices, including sensors, microphones and video cameras of the object before the ascent of the VISS is made from the onboard network, and when the network fails or the separation of this tool from the body of the object, the power of these devices is automatically transferred to autonomous energy sources. 8. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the disconnector, upon signal from the command device, releases the VISS for surfacing automatically in case of failure of an emergency underwater object below the maximum immersion depth, while the housing of the device is automatically released from flexible communication and all cables to it from the object, a sonar beacon is simultaneously included in the operation, which in the future can function to any given depth. 9. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one flexible hose with positive buoyancy is connected to the VISS casing at one end and to the underwater object with the other end for supplying fresh air, oxygen, liquid food, and anti-food means to it underwater fires, removal of polluted air, etc.

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