초록 ▼

A compensator added to the hydraulic circuit of an ocean profiler. The compensator stores energy by compression of gas during descent and expansion of the gas during ascent, thereby reducing the work required of the active buoyancy mechanism. The pressure from the external liquid medium in which the

A compensator added to the hydraulic circuit of an ocean profiler. The compensator stores energy by compression of gas during descent and expansion of the gas during ascent, thereby reducing the work required of the active buoyancy mechanism. The pressure from the external liquid medium in which the vehicle is submerged provides the energy, a portion of which is stored within the compensator.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ocean profiler adapted to descend to a plurality of depths within a body of water and adapted to ascend to a plurality of depths including a surface of said body of water, comprising:a pressure hull having a bottom from which a side wall extends vertically upward terminating in a top, said top

1. An ocean profiler adapted to descend to a plurality of depths within a body of water and adapted to ascend to a plurality of depths including a surface of said body of water, comprising:a pressure hull having a bottom from which a side wall extends vertically upward terminating in a top, said top and bottom defining a pressure hull longitudinal axis, said top, bottom and side wall defining a pressure hull interior, said pressure hull having an aperture formed therein;an external flexible bladder connected to said pressure hull aperture;a sensing, control and communications apparatus contained within said pressure hull;a pumping system contained within said pressure hull and connected to said sensing, control and communications apparatus and to said external flexible bladder, said pumping system adapted to change the depth of said pressure hull; anda compensator system contained within said pressure hull and connected to said external flexible bladder, said compensator system adapted to store energy by compression of gas during a descent of said pressure hull and adapted to release said energy during an ascent of said pressure hull. 2. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 1, wherein the compensator system is comprised of:a compensator cylinder having a top and a bottom, said compensator cylinder being positioned in the pressure hull interior parallel to the said pumping system, said compensator cylinder having a floating piston separating a cylinder upper portion, defined by the floating piston and the compensator cylinder top, from a cylinder lower portion, defined by the floating piston and the compensator cylinder bottom, said cylinder upper portion containing a compensator gas and said cylinder lower portion containing a compensator liquid, said compensator cylinder bottom having an aperture formed therein, said aperture being connected by means of a tube to said external flexible bladder;wherein, during profiler descent, said external flexible bladder is adapted to receive an increasing ocean pressure forcing said compensator liquid into the compensator cylinder lower portion thereby forcing the floating piston upward against the compensator gas in the compensator cylinder upper portion thereby compressing the gas; andwherein, during profiler ascent, said compensator gas is adapted to expand forcing the floating piston downward forcing the compensator oil out of the cylinder lower portion into the external flexible bladder. 3. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 2, wherein:said pressure hull interior is comprised of an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion containing said sensing, control and communications apparatus, said lower portion containing the pumping system and compensator system. 4. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 3, wherein:said pumping system is adapted to move liquid to and from the external flexible bladder, thereby increasing and decreasing profiler displacement. 5. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 4, further comprising:a compression spring in said compensator cylinder lower portion extending from said compensator cylinder bottom to said floating piston. 6. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 5, wherein:said compensator liquid is oil. 7. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 6, wherein:said compensator gas is nitrogen. 8. An ocean profiler as recited in claim 7, wherein:said pressure hull has a generally cylindrical shape.