UNDERWATER OBSERVATION APPARATUS

摘要

An underwater observation apparatus includes an observation apparatus body, a weight structure, a coupling device, and a fusion cutting device. The observation apparatus body is configured to house at least a power source, a communication circuit for a communication device, and a signal processing device. The coupling device couples the observation apparatus body with the weight structure via a remote-controlled release structure capable of releasing the observation apparatus body from the weight structure. The underwater observation apparatus also includes a power feeding coil located inside of a glass sphere to generate magnetic flux, and a power receiving coil located outside of the glass sphere. The power receiving coil generates an induced voltage when interlinked by the magnetic flux generated by the power feeding coil. The power receiving coil is configured to supply drive power to the fusion cutting device.

主权项

1. An underwater observation apparatus comprising:
a housing configured to house at least a power source including a power storage, a communication circuit of a communication device, and a signal processing device, the communication circuit including a matching coil for impedance matching; a buoyancy generating unit configured to provide buoyancy to the housing; a weight structure to which the housing is attached; a coupling device configured to couple the housing with the weight structure via a remote-controlled release structure capable of releasing the housing from the weight structure; an external load located outside of the housing and configured to be operated by a drive power supplied from the power source, the external load including at least an electrical component included in the release structure; a light-emitting device attached inside or outside of the housing to emit light upward of a water surface when the release structure releases and allows the housing to move upward by buoyancy for recovery and a portion of the housing is exposed from the water surface, the light-emitting device including a plurality of light-emitting diodes located in an annular arrangement at predetermined intervals to surround a center point of the portion of the housing that is to be exposed from the water surface, and oriented at an angle determined to emit light obliquely upward with respect to the water surface; a power feeding coil located inside of the housing to generate magnetic flux using a current supplied from the power source; and a power receiving coil located outside of the housing to generate an induced voltage when interlinked by the magnetic flux generated by the power feeding coil to supply the drive power to the external load, wherein: the communication device includes a transducer installed outside of the housing to perform acoustic communication underwater, and the communication circuit installed inside of the housing; and the matching coil and the power feeding coil are arranged such that a first assumed magnetic force line extending in a coil winding axis direction of the power feeding coil is orthogonal to a second assumed magnetic force line extending in a coil winding axis direction of the matching coil.