Oceangraphic assembly for collecting data along multiple water columns

摘要

An apparatus collects data along water columns. A telescoping shell has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. An expansible chamber is defined within the outer cylinder. A fluid flow path is formed between the expansible chamber and the outer cylinder's open end. A gas source is vented to the expansible chamber. Sensors, including a pressure sensor, are coupled to the shell such that they are exposed to an ambient water environment when the apparatus is deployed therein. A vent mounted in the outer cylinder vents the expansible chamber to the ambient water environment. A controller controls the gas source and vent based on sensed pressure of the ambient water environment such that water from the ambient water environment is admitted to or expelled from the expansible chamber via the fluid flow path.

主权项

1. An apparatus for collecting data along multiple water columns, comprising:
a telescoping shell defined by (i) an outer cylinder having a closed end and an open end, and (ii) an inner cylinder fitted in and extendible from said open end of said outer cylinder, said inner cylinder having an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of said open end, said inner cylinder having a piston formed at one longitudinal end thereof and residing in said outer cylinder, said inner cylinder further having a cap formed at an opposing longitudinal end thereof, said piston having a diameter that is greater than said diameter of said open end and less than an inside diameter of said outer cylinder, wherein an expansible chamber is defined within said outer cylinder with said piston forming a movable wall thereof; a gas source containing a pressurized gas disposed in said inner cylinder; a controllable valve disposed between said gas source and said expansible chamber, said valve operable to vent said gas from said gas source into said expansible chamber; a plurality of sensors coupled to said shell and adapted to be exposed to an ambient water environment when the apparatus is deployed therein, said plurality of sensors including a pressure sensor; a controllable vent mounted in said outer cylinder and adapted to vent said expansible chamber to the ambient water environment when said vent is opened; and a controller coupled to said sensors, said valve and said vent, said controller operable to close said vent and control said valve to expel said gas from said gas source into said expansible chamber at a first pressure sensed by said pressure sensor, and said controller operable to open said vent and control said valve to prevent expulsion of said gas from said gas source into said expansible chamber at a second pressure sensed by said pressure sensor.